PHILADELPHIA _ The 76ers apparently can't beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Paul George converted a four-point play with 5 seconds left to lift the Thunder to a 117-115 victory Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Sixers had a chance to win the game. However, Jimmy Butler misfired on a desperation 3-pointer before time expired.
The setback marked the Sixers' 19th straight loss to OKC. Their last series win came on Nov. 15, 2008, in the Thunder's first season in Oklahoma City.
The loss snapped the Sixers' three-game winning streak and dropped them to 30-17. Meanwhile, the Thunder (27-18) stopped a two-game skid. It was just there second win in seven games.
The Sixers had a 115-113 lead after Butler stole Dennis Schroder's pass and scored a layup with 6.9 seconds left. But after an OKC timeout, the four-time All-Star fouled George while he made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left.
George finished with 14 of his team-high 31 points in the fourth quarter. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists before fouling out with 14.9 seconds left.
Joel Embiid paced the Sixers with 31 points to go with eight rebounds while playing with back tightness. Ben Simmons had 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. JJ Redick added 22 points, while Butler had 18 on 5-of-18 shooting.
The Sixers took a 99-97 lead on Mike Muscala's jumper with 5 minutes, 25 seconds remaining. However, George responded with a personal 8-0 run.
He hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Thunder up one. Then added an alley-oop dunk and another 3-pointer to give the Thunder a 105-99 advantage with 3:30 to play.
Embiid pulled the Sixers to within two points, 106-104, on a dunk with 2:29 left.
Things got a little testy afterward.
Embiid fouled Westbrook while contesting a layup and fell on the point guard as they both went to the ground. Westbrook, after getting up, took exception and went after the big man. After being held back, Westbrook made a pair of foul shots to give OKC a 108-104 lead with 1:26 remaining.
After the squads traded 3-pointers, Butler converted a three-point play with 38 seconds left to pull with Sixers within 111-110.
But Butler fouled George on the ensuing possession. The swingman sank a pair of foul shots to put the Thunder up, 113-110, with 20.9 seconds to go.
Embiid, however, knotted the score after being fouled by Westbrook (his sixth) on a 3-point shot attempt, making all three free throws with 14.9 seconds left. Moments later, Butler stole Schroder's pass _ after the Sixers trapped him with Simmons and Wilson Chandler _ put the Sixers up two before George's heroics.
