The Sixers waved the white flag before the game even started. One by one, Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were all ruled out. Despite that, the depleted Philly squad forced OKC to sweat out a close victory.

The Sixers could not overcome a gigantic difference in manpower Tuesday night against the Western Conference-leading Thunder They fell to a 118-102 loss at Wells Fargo Center, dropping to 15-23 with their third consecutive defeat.

Oklahoma City lost the second and third quarters by 10 combined points, but its talent advantage loomed large in the other two frames.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Jalen Williams had 24 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-102 win over a Philadelphia 76ers team missing three All-Stars.

Despite most — this beat writer included — assuming that the Sixers would have their doors blown off by the NBA's best team defense and individual scorer, the nine players donning red, white and blue played with absolutely no expectation that they were going to be on the wrong end of a blowout.

Jalen Williams contributed 24 points for the Thunder, while Cason Wallace notched 18 points. Oklahoma City shot 55.6 percent ... Justin Edwards (25 points) and Jeff Dowtin Jr. (18) set new career ...

Here are the three biggest takeaways for the Philadelphia 76ers following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

The G League lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers made things interesting against the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Jalen Williams had 24 to lead the Oklahoma City ... with 25 points, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. had 18. Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander ...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Jalen Williams had 24 to lead the Oklahoma City ... with 25 points, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. had 18. Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander ...

The Oklahoma City thunder could land a former fourth overall pick from the Chicago Bulls via trade to upgrade their frontcourt.

Despite a very rare loss on Friday night, Oklahoma City proved itself as the best team in the NBA. After taking down the Knicks and the Celtics, the Thunder’s l