In a battle of Rockets’ past versus future, second-year guard Jalen Green had a team-high 27 points and 7 assists as Houston outlasted former star James Harden and visiting Philadelphia, 132-123 (box score). Despite going 0-of-7 on 3-pointers, Green shot a respectable 45% from the field thanks to a 9-of-13 showing (69.2%) from inside the arc, and he also drew 10 free-throw attempts, making nine.
Perennial All-Star center and MVP candidate Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 39 points on 12-of-21 shooting (57.1%), but he fouled out at the end of Monday’s first overtime on a Kevin Porter Jr. drive. From that point, Houston outscored Philadelphia (12-12) by 10 points and won the game in a second overtime with relative ease.
Harden had 21 points and a team-high 7 assists for the 76ers, but he struggled in his first game back after missing a month with a right foot tendon strain, shooting just 4-of-19 (21.1%) from the field.
Porter added 24 points and 6 for the Rockets, making 4-of-8 on 3-pointers (50.0%) and blocking a key shot by Harden late in regulation. Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. had another double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range (50.0%), including two big 3-pointers in the overtime sessions.
Fellow rookie Tari Eason tallied 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals in 21 minutes off the bench, making 7-of-11 shots (63.6%) and 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%). On the whole, it was another encouraging showing for many of the young and developing Rockets (7-17), who have won four of their last seven games.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews at Toyota Center. Houston returns to action Thursday in San Antonio for its final road game before Christmas, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
I know the Suns have a better record than the 76ers, but I think this might be the Rockets' best win of the season based on the persistence it took
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) December 6, 2022
JABARI HUGE THREE pic.twitter.com/5niV76PFR1
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 6, 2022
Jalen Green has severely outplayed James Harden tonight
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) December 6, 2022
JALEN SCORES OVER EMBIID
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 6, 2022
James Harden tried to take the game-winner in his Houston return.
It didn’t go as he planned.
🎥 @Rockets pic.twitter.com/3cRPnByHFN
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 6, 2022
Silas on the #Rockets 2 OT W over Philly & the confidence this team is feeling after beating ATL & PHX: “A month ago we probably wouldn’t have won this game.”
— Paul Gallant (@GallantSays) December 6, 2022
Coach Silas had some really good play calls tonight. Had his guys ready to play, and the end-of-regulation play call was great the end of the first overtime play call that got KPJ free throws was another good play call
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 6, 2022
In hindsight, the biggest “win expectancy” play was KPJ drawing the contact to foul out Embiid at the end of OT1. Philly was cooked from that point forward and Rockets, with younger legs, just outlasted them.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 6, 2022
Stephen Silas had high praise for Tari Eason: "He just has a knack for getting the basketball … With that comes more trust and more minutes, I assume."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 6, 2022
#Rockets head coach Stephen Silas on their 20T win against the #Sixers. pic.twitter.com/fnpQQjWWs9
— Brandon Scott (@brandonkscott) December 6, 2022
The Rockets have played 3 legit contenders in a row and beaten two of them.
Impressive stuff.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) December 6, 2022
Have to love Calvin. The Rockets have improved from last year. They were not closing out games like Atlanta and Phoenix last year. All 3 games against playoff-caliber teams pic.twitter.com/OfCoich5C3
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 6, 2022
By the way, #Rockets are now 4-3 in their last seven. They’re playing better ball and becoming quite competitive
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 6, 2022
On the one-month anniversary of the Astros beating the Phillies to win the World Series, another Philadelphia team lost in Houston as a tribute. pic.twitter.com/729fThjnnh
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 6, 2022
Jabari Smith Jr. on hitting the clutch three in the second OT: "It was a big shot. I let my emotions out."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 6, 2022
“Really young team with a lot of energy. We knew that we couldn’t just push them around,” said 76ers forward Tobias Harris on the Rockets. #LightTheFuse #Sarge #RocketsWire
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 6, 2022
Jalen Green says this is the longest game he has ever played. Green logged 44 minutes while scoring a team best 27 points in #Rockets win over 76ers.
“I am hurting.”https://t.co/lvI1OoGGU0
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) December 6, 2022
that’s 🗣️ how 🗣️ we 🗣️ execute 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/W3JXMcv0kg
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 6, 2022
James Harden: "We know they were not just gonna lay down. They just got off a really good road trip, they beat some good teams, being down by a lot and winning a couple of games, so they have a bright future." pic.twitter.com/faVX4wsI0y
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 6, 2022
#Rockets WIN IN DOUBLE OT 132-123@Kevinporterjr had these thoughts after the WIN over the 76ers@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/qFoiTbxeMX
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 6, 2022
#Rockets beat the 76ers 132-123 in 2OT@HoustonRockets have now won 4 of their last 7 games
Here was head coach Stephen Silas after the WIN pic.twitter.com/uYxjMXzqpg
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 6, 2022
FINAL SCORE/2OT
HOU – 132
PHI – 123#Rockets rookie @TAR13ASON with another big night
18 PTS / 7-11 FG / 6 REB / 3 STL@houstonrockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/rJZpbEj0lZ— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 6, 2022
"That was my idol" – KPJ talked about going against James Harden after the Rockets 132-123 win over PHI@HoustonRockets I #Rockets pic.twitter.com/zMfwsVzufx
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 6, 2022
Jalen Green 27 PTS in the @HoustonRockets 132-123 DOUBLE OT win over the 76ers@SportsVanessa talked with @JalenGreen after the WIN pic.twitter.com/mqUErrgMKS
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 6, 2022
