Joel Embiid leads 76ers past under-manned Rockets with injured back
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Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid’s back was hurting, but surely not his game as he leads the 76ers past Rockets 118-113. After the team previously had lost 3 consecutive games, Embiid knew his role in this game against under-manned Houston Rockets. Having scored 31 points, Embiid fell short by an assist to register a triple-double. While Seth Curry and Tobias Harris too were phenomenal with their scores of 25 and 14 for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Houston Rockets were led by John Wall, who dropped 28 points. Rockets were without P.J.Tucker, Victor Oladipo and Christian Wood. After this loss the Rockets have lost their seven consecutive games. Demarcus Cousins added 19, whereas Eric Gordon contributed significantly with 17 points.
Joel Embiid’s double-double against Rockets ends 76ers’ 3-game losing streak
It looked like Philadelphia’s star big man might be able to rest his aching back in the second half. The 76ers led by 29 points and looked on their way to an easy victory when Tyrese Maxey’s two free throws made it 100-82 with 10:07 to play. But Philadelphia relaxed enough to let Houston slowly back into the contest.
Gordon’s 3-pointer with 3:54 remaining cut the margin under double-digits for the first time since early in the second quarter, pulling the Rockets within 108-99. Then, Wall scored eight straight points for the Rockets, the last two on a pair of free throws with 1:28 left, to make it 110-107. Embiid answered with a baseline, 12-foot jump shot and the 76ers made enough free throws in the final minute to hold on.
Before entering Philadelphia’s locker room, Embiid sat on a chair, stretched and grimaced. He looked spryer at the start of the second half, scoring early with a pair of layups and a short jumper. And he looked fine when Philadelphia needed him the most in crunch time.
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