Field Level Media
20 Mar 2025, 08:35 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
Aaron Wiggins scored 26 points and Jaylin Williams had his second career triple-double as the host Oklahoma City Thunder knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers 133-100 on Wednesday.
The Thunder (57-12), headed toward the top seed in the Western Conference, clinched the Northwest Division.
Williams finished with career highs in points (19) and rebounds (17) and added 11 assists on 7-of-11 shooting. He also added two steals.
Isaiah Joe added 21 points while Chet Holmgren scored 19. Branden Carlson finished with a career-high 16.
Quentin Grimes led the 76ers with 28 points while Justin Edwards added 19. Chuma Okeke had 15 rebounds off the bench to go with 14 points.
Philadelphia (23-46) has dropped 17 of its last 20.
The Thunder played without the majority of their starting lineup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was out due to rest, Jalen Williams with a right hip strain, Isaiah Hartenstein due to lower back spasms and Luguentz Dort with right hip soreness.
But, just like it did March 7 against Portland in a similar situation, Oklahoma City controlled the game.
The Thunder never trailed and led by as many as 41 to extend their winning streak to four. Oklahoma City has won 11 of its last 12 and is on the verge of clinching the top spot in the Western Conference with 13 games to play.
The result Wednesday could prove pivotal at the end of the season, as the 76ers' first-round pick would go to the Thunder unless it lands in the top six.
Oklahoma City jumped out of the gates hot on the offensive end, scoring the game's first 10 points, including 3-pointers from Joe to start the game and Jaylin Williams to end the outburst.
The Thunder scored a season-high 42 first-quarter points behind 10 points from Carlson and nine each from Williams and Holmgren. The Thunder hit 7 of 12 from beyond the arc in the quarter.
Philadelphia cut the deficit to eight in the second quarter after trailing by 21, but Oklahoma City finished the half on an 8-2 run to take control once again -- and the 76ers never again were closer than 10.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Pittsburgh Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Pittsburgh Star.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: The Trump administration is pressuring major food companies to remove artificial dyes from their products,...
(Photo credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images) Aaron Wiggins scored 26 points and Jaylin Williams had his second career triple-double...
(Photo credit: Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Jarren Duran hit a leadoff home...
(Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images) Javier Rivas hit a walk-off solo home run to complete a three-run uprising and hand...
(Photo credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images) After posting its most impressive victory of the season, the Orlando Magic look to carry...
(Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) The Indiana Pacers begin a pivotal five-game homestand on Wednesday when the slumping Dallas...
As Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza on Wednesday heralding a new ground invasion, a UN building was destroyed in a bombing, killing one...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Johns Hopkins University announced this week that it will cut over 2,000 jobs in the U.S. and other countries. This...
LA MALBAIE, Canada: The United States will likely revoke visas of more students in the coming days, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government has placed more than 1,300 Voice of America (VOA) employees on leave and slashed funding for...
WASHINGTON, D.C./SEATTLE: Boeing is facing mounting scrutiny after a series of safety lapses and manufacturing issues, with U.S. Transportation...
OMAHA, Nebraska: Vaccines could help stop bird flu and prevent the mass killing of chickens, which has driven egg prices up to nearly...