The Sixers (26-44) continue their road trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder (40-30) at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m./CSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports app).
Let's take a closer look at the matchup.
1. No rest for the weary
One day may not be enough time for the Sixers to recover.
Down to just nine available players on Monday, the Sixers fought hard in a grueling 112-109 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic to open up their five-game road trip.
By the end of the night, the Sixers were actually down to only six bodies. That was after Dario Saric, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Richaun Holmes fouled out in the defeat.
"Trying to win on the road, in a back-to-back situation with a beaten-down team, those types of things are hard to overcome," head coach Brett Brown said (see game story).
2. Relentless Russell
Dealing with a tired group isn't the best recipe for facing a team led by Russell Westbrook.
NBA
Westbrook is an absolute animal on the court. As you likely know, he is vying to become the first NBA player since the great Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 season to average a triple-double. Westbrook is currently on pace for the achievement with averages of 31.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.3 assists.
The Sixers already witnessed up close and personal what Westbrook is capable of way back in October. That's when the veteran point guard put up 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the Thunder's season-opening win over the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center.
With Westbrook coming off one of his worst performances of the 2016-17 campaign on Monday against the rival Golden State Warriors, the Sixers should expect a hungry effort from the six-time All-Star.
3. Paying dividends
The Thunder thought they found the right combo forward when they acquired Jerami Grant from the Sixers after just two games this season. That didn't exactly work out how they planned, so OKC dipped back into the trade waters.
The Thunder landed veteran Taj Gibson from Chicago at the trade deadline and the move is paying off in a big way. Gibson is averaging 8.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game since joining the Thunder.
More importantly, the team is 8-5 since Gibson's acquisition, including 5-1 with him in the starting lineup.
Look for Gibson to lock horns with Saric in a highly-intense clash during long stretches of Wednesday's game.
4. Injuries
Jahlil Okafor (knee) is a game-time decision. Tiago Splitter (calf), Joel Embiid (knee), Ben Simmons (foot) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) are out for the Sixers.
The Thunder have no players listed on the injury report.
5. This and that
• The Sixers have lost 15 straight games to the Thunder.
• In 10 career games against the Sixers, Victor Oladipo has averaged 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
• The Sixers had 10 blocks in the season-opening loss to the Thunder. Holmes had a team-high three.