Edwards, who credits the Delaware Blue Coats for his recent success, couldn't be more appreciative of the opportunity "to put on for my family and friends and my hometown.”

In a theme that has become all too common this season, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves vastly shorthanded in their game against the OKC Thunder Tuesday.

Kelly Oubre Jr. needs to score more, Justin Edwards' minutes Kelly Oubre Jr. must seize the moment. Justin Edwards deserves more minutes. And even though they were depleted, the Sixers have to do a better job of defending opposing guards.

The shorthanded Sixers may have fallen to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t a number of highlights from the squad’s effort worth watching.

Not expected to be part of the rotation entering the season, Justin Edwards scored a career-high 25 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

The severely shorthanded Sixers fell to a 118-102 loss Tuesday night to the Western Conference-leading Thunder.