OKLAHOMA CITY (56-15) AT PHILADELPHIA (38-32)

Preview

PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, riding a 12-game winning streak, visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in a matchup of teams on opposite ends of the playoff picture.

The Thunder (56-15) have been the league’s most dominant team, boasting the best record and a net rating that leads the NBA. Their recent run includes decisive victories over contenders like Boston, Denver and Minnesota. In their last outing, a 132-111 win at Washington on Saturday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points. The MVP candidate is averaging 31.2 points and 7.8 assists during the win streak, including a 40-point effort against Orlando and a 35-point, 15-assist performance against Denver.

Philadelphia (38-32) sits in the Eastern Conference’s play-in tier and is coming off a high-scoring 139-118 road win over Sacramento on Thursday. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe led that charge with 38 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, showcasing the explosive potential that has made him a focal point of the 76ers’ offense. However, consistency has been an issue; the win over the Kings was sandwiched between a 28-point loss in Denver and a 22-point loss in Detroit.

The teams met once previously this season, a 129-104 Thunder victory in Oklahoma City on Dec. 28. The Thunder’s balanced attack, which also features Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein — who had a triple-double (9 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists) against Washington — presents a formidable challenge for a Philadelphia defense that has ranked in the bottom third of the league.

For the 76ers, securing a victory against the league’s top team would provide a significant boost to their postseason seeding aspirations. For the Thunder, it represents another opportunity to fine-tune their game against a capable, if inconsistent, opponent as they march toward the overall playoff seed.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.