The Houston Rockets (13-43, 5-23 Away) will try to overcome one of the NBA’s top scoring defenses when they head to face the Philadelphia 76ers (36-19, 21-8 Home) on Monday. Houston was narrowly defeated by the Miami Heat 97-95 at FTX Arena on Friday, their fifth loss in a row.
Jabari Smith Jr. was a top performer in the loss with 22 points and eight rebounds. The Rockets are 15th in the Western Conference. Philadelphia won a close one on Saturday at Barclays Center, beating the Brooklyn Nets 101-98.
Joel Embiid had 37 points and 13 rebounds to lead the team. The 76ers are third in the Eastern Conference. The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After winning the only prior season game against Philadelphia 132-123 in double overtime at Toyota Center in December 2022, Houston will be aiming for a season sweep.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points, while Tari Eason contributed 18 points. Embiid had 39 points and three assists in defeat. Green and Kevin Porter Jr., averaging 21.8 and 19.2 points per game, respectively, have led the Rockets in scoring this season.
Porter Jr. also has dished 5.6 assists per game. Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun is grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. Embiid (33.4 ppg) has supplied much of the Sixers’ offense. He has the No. 1 scoring average in the league. Embiid also has averaged 10.2 rebounds per game, 10th-most in the NBA.
James Harden has recorded 10.8 assists per game. The 76ers rank as one of the stingiest scoring defenses in the league, third-best with 110.5 points per game allowed. The 76ers have had success in the Rockets’ last 10 trips to Wells Fargo Center, winning six.
Houston is 3-7 in the last 10 games with an average margin of -7.1 (112.1-119.2). Philadelphia has gone 7-3 over the last 10, scoring 115.9 points per game on average while holding opponents to 113.7 (+2.2 margin).
ROCKETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Eric Gordon: 24.7 | 18.0 | +6.6
Points per game:
Eric Gordon: 17.7 | 13.1 | +4.6
Rebounds per game:
Alperen Sengun: 6.4 | 8.7 | -2.3
Assists per game:
Alperen Sengun: 5.2 | 3.7 | +1.5
76ERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Tobias Harris: 15.8 | 24.2 | -8.4
Points per game:
Tobias Harris: 8.2 | 15.5 | -7.3
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Philadelphia 76ers -13.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
