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.

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 banged up version of the Philadelphia 76ers put up a great effort, but they fall short to the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

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

With just nine active players Tuesday night, the Sixers lost their third straight game and have lost six of their last eight. Two-way player Justin Edwards led the Sixers with 25 points.

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the nine-man Philadelphia ... Undrafted forward Justin Edwards racked up a career-high 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including four triples, to lead 76ers scorers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting to guide the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-102 win over the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

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.

As the Sixers fall to 15-25 with the trade deadline nearing, the team's brass has some major decisions to make.

The 76ers squared off with the Knicks in Philadelphia in a matchup without Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Knicks (27-15) scored the first eight points of the overtime en route to outscoring the Sixers, 16-10, in the extra session. Former Villanova standout Jalen Brunson scored eight of his game-high 38 points in overtime.