Philadelphia 76ers Beat Houston Rockets In Overtime Thriller
If you walked into the Wells Fargo Center early Thursday night, the vibe was tense. The Philadelphia 76ers were sitting at 1-3 on their current homestand, the offense looked like it was wading through molasses, and the collective blood pressure of the fanbase was spiking.
But, as is the chaotic tradition of Philadelphia basketball, they didn’t do it the easy way, but they got it done. The 76ers managed to claw their way back from a sluggish start, survive a barrage of Rockets three-pointers, and dominate overtime to secure a 128-122 victory.
The 76ers Stars Arrived Fashionably Late
The first quarter was ugly. Tyrese Maxey looked like he was trying to solve a calculus equation while running uphill. The Rockets, a team weirdly constructed with a million wings and very few traditional guards, used their length to bother him. They got physical, threw him off his rhythm, and for a minute, it looked like one of those nights.
Then there was Joel Embiid. The big fella started slow, missing chippies and coughing up turnovers. But here is the terrifying luxury the 76ers have: even on a “slow” night, Embiid is a nightmare. Once he adjusted to Houston throwing the kitchen sink at him, he feasted. He finished with a monster line of 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. He essentially decided around the third quarter that Clint Capela and Alperen Sengun were merely traffic cones in his way.
Maxey, to his credit, woke up too. He realized that speed kills, finishing with a game-high 36 points. His buckets in the fourth quarter and overtime weren’t just points; they were defibrillator jolts for a team that looked flat.
Kelly Oubre Jr. Provided the Spark Philly Needed
While the superstars were hitting the snooze button early on, Kelly Oubre Jr. was the one drinking the espresso.
Oubre is nothing if not an experience. Sometimes that experience is chaotic, but on Thursday, it was essential. He attacked the rim with reckless abandon while everyone else was settling for jumpers. He dropped 26 points and hit efficient threes, keeping the 76ers afloat when the ship was taking on water.
Paul George and the Foul Trouble Blues
It was a rough night at the office for Paul George. Tasked with guarding Kevin Durant, George spent most of the night listening to the referee’s whistle.
He picked up quick fouls, got called for charges, and never really found a rhythm, finishing with just 10 points. But he hit a massive three-pointer late and made a crucial defensive stop when it mattered. That’s the veteran savvy you pay for. You can play a C-minus game for 46 minutes, but if you deliver an A-plus moment in crunch time, all is forgiven.
A Rookie Moment and a Sigh Of Relief
We have to talk about the rookie, VJ Edgecombe. The kid has guts. In overtime, he essentially mugged Alperen Sengun for a rebound and got a put-back that swung the momentum entirely to Philly. He finished with 9 points, but that hustle play was the emotional dagger.
On the other side, you have to tip your cap to Houston. They came in shooting 45% from deep, but they fell apart in the extra session. They went stagnant, watching Durant try to play hero ball while the Sixers moved the rock.
This was a “must-win” in the sense that losing would have made the city of Philadelphia uninhabitable for 24 hours. The 76ers stopped the bleeding, salvaged the homestand, and reminded everyone that as long as Embiid and Maxey are breathing, they always have a puncher’s chance.
