Chance of the calendar or will on his part, we will never know. There is always that James Hardenafter more than a month of absence and 14 missed games, signed his return to Houston this night, on the floor of his former team.
A losing comeback, since the 76ers lost to these young but valiant Rockets, after a double overtime (132-123). On a personal level, the bearded back signed a contrasting performance (21 points at 4/19, 7 rebounds and 4 assists but 7 ball losses), and it is rather Joel Embiid who held the house for a long time (39 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks), before receiving a sixth foul and leaving his teammates before the final whistle.
For the Rockets, it is certainly a very good victory, under the impetus of the 51 points of the duo Kevin Porter Jr. – Jalen Green, acquired in pain but with forceps (as many ball losses as assists, but six players with more than 10 points). A victory of character in summary, which always does good to such a young group, which is still trying to establish its identity.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A mixed comeback for James Harden. Placed in the five major from the start, “The Beard” was supposed to be spared for this return. Finally, while the match lasted 58 minutes, he played 38, for a mixed stats sheet: 21 points on 19 shots, a usual raid on the free throw line (9/10), 7 rebounds and 2 interceptions, but also… 7 ball losses. A contrasting return overall, but rather encouraging when we assume that shot selection and ball loss will be subject to a significant margin of improvement, when the player has more rhythm in the legs.
– A history of free throws. On the side of the 76ers, a 28/36 in the exercise. For the Rockets, a 34/44. The difference was clearly made in this compartment of the game, while the two teams offered a very similar level of play: the same total loss of ball (19), and an almost identical shooting success (44.8% for Philly , 44.7% for Houston). The trio of youngsters Jalen Green (9/10) – Kevin Porter Jr. (6/8) – Jabari Smith Jr. (7/9) were particularly aggressive, successfully, towards the circle. For the 76ers, it was a little more caricatural: Joel Embiid (14/17) and James Harden (9/10) compiled between them 23 of the 28 free throws converted by their team.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Jalen Green & Kevin Porter Jr. The young “backcourt” of the Rockets was, unsurprisingly, the engine of the rocket, in this great victory. The first compiled 27 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists, the second 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. A big problem, however, in the care given to the wearing of leather: the two young backs have accumulated 12 ball losses between them! Without consequence in the end.
✅ Jabari Smith Jr. & Tari Eason. In turn, since the second was the understudy of the first, the two rookies brought energy to the rebound, voluntary defense, external address and aggressiveness towards the circle. The 3rd choice of the Draft signed a double-double at 16 points (3/6 at 3-pts and 7/9 on free throws) and 11 rebounds, when the 17th choice, off the bench, finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. The Rockets have two very good players.
✅ Joel Embiid. Forced to permanently join the bench at the very end of the first overtime, after receiving a sixth foul, the 76ers pivot ended on a bitter note. But his overall performance is very good, and he could hardly do more: 39 points (12/21 on shots, 14/17 on free throws), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. An XXL and ultra-clean match in attack, unfortunately not rewarded with victory.
✅⛔️ Alperen Sengun. Overall discreet in attack because not used much, both on “pick-and-roll” and at the low post (8 points in 9 shots), the Turkish pivot did not have a very good evening either. of the field, in defense. Faced with Joel Embiid, he logically drooled (6 fouls committed), and he was replaced by Bruno Fernando, less mobile but more physical to face the 76ers superstar. Overall, it was not the ideal opponent for him, facing these Sixers who play very slowly and mainly on the half court, looking to exploit his defensive limits.
THE FOLLOWING
Rockets (7-17): trip to San Antonio, Thursday night to Friday (2:30 a.m.)
Sixers (12-12): reception of the Lakers, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:30)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
