The Philadelphia 76ers survived in overtime against the strong Houston Rockets on Thursday evening, 128-122.
Tyrese Maxey dropped 36 points and 10 assists, while Joel Embiid had a triple-double of 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Sixers’ Kelly Oubre added 26 points and Paul George had 10 points, returning to the lineup after missing two straight games due to left knee management.
On the other hand, Rockets’ Kevin Durant finished with 36 points, while Amen Thompson added 17.
Philadelphia scored the first five points of the extra session on George’s three-pointer and VJ Edgecombe’s follow-through from close range after he grabbed an offensive rebound to take control.
Durant blocked Maxey’s layup attempt with 13.2 seconds left as the Sixers had a chance to win it in regulation.
The 76ers opened a 94-88 lead early in the fourth quarter, but it took 3:23 for them to score another point.
Reed Sheppard’s third three-pointer of the quarter put the Rockets ahead 105-96 with 6:25 to go, but the Sixers tied the score twice late in regulation, the last on Maxey’s layup with 40.1 seconds left.
Meanwhile, Aaron Holiday was downgraded from questionable to out for the Rockets due to back spasms, and Steven Adamas was also sidelined due to a sprained left ankle.
The Houston Rockets face the Pistons on Friday night, while the Philadelphia 76ers host the Knicks on Saturday.
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