76ers Beat Rockets 128-122 in Overtime Thriller

Sixers Survive Overtime Battle With Rockets

The Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Houston Rockets 128-122 in overtime Thursday night. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey powered the home team to victory in a back-and-forth battle.

Embiid and Maxey Take Over

Embiid looked like his old MVP self. The seven-foot giant commanded the paint all night long. He finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. His size and skill overwhelmed Houston's defense. He hit jumpers from the mid-range. He powered through defenders near the basket. His footwork was graceful for such a big man.

Maxey matched him step for step. The 25-year-old guard poured in 36 points and dished 10 assists. He weaved through traffic like a race car. His quick first step left defenders frozen. When the Rockets backed off, he drained long threes. When they pressed up, he attacked the rim.

Kelly Oubre Jr. gave Philadelphia another scoring punch. He added 26 points on hot shooting. The team was unstoppable in overtime, outscoring Houston 13-7.

Durant Battles But Falls Short

Kevin Durant did everything he could for Houston. The future Hall of Famer scored 36 points and played 44 minutes. His smooth shooting stroke never looked rushed. At six-foot-ten, he rose over defenders for jumpers that looked impossible to block.

But Durant couldn't do it alone. Amen Thompson added 17 points, nine assists and three steals. His defense was fierce all night. Reed Sheppard chipped in 14 points off the bench. Alperen Sengun managed 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but struggled with his shot.

The Final Minutes

The game stayed tight all night. Houston led after the first quarter 34-32. Philadelphia surged ahead by halftime 68-61. The Rockets clawed back to trail by just two after three quarters. Regulation ended tied, forcing the extra period.

In overtime, Embiid and Maxey took control. Philadelphia improved to 24-19 while Houston dropped to 26-16.