FILE – Seth Curry #31 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Wells Fargo Center on October 22, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Seth Curry hit seven 3-pointers and scored 28 points to lift the Philadelphia 76ers over the host Oklahoma City Thunder 115-103 on Sunday.
Joel Embiid added 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots for the Sixers. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey contributed 14 points apiece, Georges Niang added 12 and Danny Green had 11.
28 PTS | 3 REB | 3 AST
extra spicy curry tonight.
🎥 presented by @PALottery pic.twitter.com/zzw1wRFQiN
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 25, 2021
The shorthanded Sixers played without Ben Simmons (personal reasons), Shake Milton (ankle) and Andre Drummond (ankle).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a season-high 29 points, while Josh Giddey chipped in with 19. Luguentz Dort added 13.
The Thunder have dropped all three games to open their season.
The Sixers led 59-51 at halftime thanks in large part to Curry’s six 3-pointers and 23 points, all produced in the first quarter.
Oklahoma City stayed close despite shooting 4 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Thunder closed within 67-63 with 6:50 left in the third following Giddey’s floater in the lane.
Philadelphia scored the next six points to move back ahead by 10.
The Sixers led 87-78 at the end of the third.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored almost immediately for the Thunder to open the fourth.
But Furkan Korkmaz responded with a trey and reserve Paul Reed grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a layup for a 92-80 Sixers advantage.
After an empty Thunder possession, Matisse Thybulle hit a 3-pointer and the Sixers’ lead swelled to 15. Following an Oklahoma City turnover, Niang made a trey and the Sixers pulled ahead 98-80 with 9:49 remaining.
The Thunder managed to close within 98-86 when Giddey converted a difficult layup with 6:01 to go. But he missed the free throw to complete a three-point play.
Philadelphia then came back with some clutch shots, and Harris’ jumper extended its advantage to 104-91 with 4:16 left.
Embiid hit consecutive shots in the final three minutes to effectively seal the victory.