The Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning streak to four games with a resounding 133-113 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday, January 3. Five players scored in double-figures for the red-hot 76ers, who moved to within 5.5 games of leaders Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings.
Embiid records third career triple-double
Joel Embiid dominated for the Sixers, recording his third career triple-double in the win against the Rockets. He scored 31 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists in another monster performance for Philadelphia. Embiid, who also had one steal and two blocks in 30 minutes of action, shot 12 of 20 from the field.
It was the second triple-double by a Sixers player in the past week. Tobias Harris recorded his first career triple-double against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, December 28, racking up 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. The last time Embiid had a triple-double was back on April 4, 2019, when he faced the Milwaukee Bucks. Embiid torched the Bucks with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists.
Furkan Korkmaz also filled the stat sheet in the game against the Rockets, recording 24 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 36 minutes of play. He shot 8 of 14 from the floor, including 3 of 8 from deep.
Seth Curry and Harris were the other starters to score in double digits for Philadelphia, adding 15 and 14 points, respectively. Isaiah Joe provided much-needed scoring off the bench with 18 points. He was deadly from beyond the arc, knocking down five of his eight 3-point attempts against the Rockets.
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Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood suspended for poor behavior
The Rockets entered this contest without two of their main players after they suspended Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team. Wood and Porter both had meltdowns after being called out by coach John Lucas at halftime of their previous game against the Denver Nuggets.
Porter left the Toyota Center during the second half following the argument while Wood was benched in the third and fourth quarters. Despite the absence of their two main stars, the Rockets still provided the Sixers with a tough test. Philadelphia also was missing two of its key players, with Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle placed on the league's health and safety protocols.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams trading leads throughout. The Sixers took a 34-30 lead after the first quarter. The Rockets came storming back in the second quarter as they grabbed a 63-62 advantage at the halftime break.
However, the Sixers pulled away in the third quarter, with Embiid and Korkmaz carrying the scoring cudgels during that period. They scored a combined 22 points in the third to help Philly build a 103-92 lead. The Sixers continued their dominance in the final quarter as they secured their 20th win of the season.
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