It wasn’t pretty, but the Sixers got the job done.
Coming off three straight losses to the Trail Blazers, Suns, and Jazz, the Sixers desperately needed a bounce-back performance against a shorthanded Houston Rockets team. Even with Ben Simmons out of action due to an illness, this was a matchup that Philadelphia should have felt comfortable about.
Early on, everything was going according to the script. The Sixers jumped out to a large early lead, with Seth Curry and Tobias Harris really paving the way on offense. Up by as much as 29 in the third quarter, it looked like tonight was going to be a game where Joel Embiid could spend the entirety of the fourth quarter on the bench, resting up his back.
However, primarily due to Philadelphia’s weal bench unit and an overall lack of urgency, the Sixers found themselves scrambling to protect their lead late in the ball game. Houston cut it all the way down to single digits, forcing Embiid to return for the fourth quarter as he was ultimately forced to carry the load for Philly offensively.
The All-Star center finished the evening with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists.
With Shake Milton still out with his ankle injury, the Sixers bench unit proved to be a major weak point for what’s felt like the ninth or tenth game in a row. Tyrese Maxey isn’t a supernatural fit at the backup PG position, Furkan Korkmaz continues to be exceptionally streaky from beyond the arc, and Dwight Howard‘s efficiency numbers are plummeting week after week.
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, expect Daryl Morey and the Sixers to eye up some bench upgrades. Specifically adding a true backup ball-handler appears to be the most likely addition.
In spite of the late-game collapse, the Sixers ultimately were able to stave off the John Wall-led Rockets. Harris and Curry combined for 49 total points to compliment Embiid’s big performance, and Matisse Thybulle provided some much-needed defensive energy. While the final seconds were dragged out due to some serious “foul game” action, Philly had this one wrapped up with about 50 seconds to go.
Blowing such a sizable lead is never a good thing, but a win is a win. The Sixers will take on the Chicago Bulls this Friday at 7:30 PM ET, hopefully with Ben Simmons back in the lineup.
Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
