After finishing last season with a .500 record, the Houston Rockets have been playing aggressively and unselfishly, leading to an impressive surge.
On Wednesday night, the Rockets aim to complete a sweep of their two-game road trip as they face the struggling Philadelphia 76ers. Houston improved to a 13-6 record following a hard-fought 117-111 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. The Rockets overcame a five-point deficit with less than two minutes left in regulation before taking control in overtime.
Fred VanVleet led the charge with 27 points and 11 assists, while Alperen Sengun achieved a triple-double, despite the team nearly squandering an 18-point lead. The Rockets showcased their teamwork, recording 31 assists on 45 made shots and hitting 15 of 37 three-pointers (40.5 percent), including six from VanVleet and four from Dillon Brooks. They have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games and are climbing the Western Conference standings.
In contrast, the 76ers have been struggling. Although they snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, they were subsequently routed by the Los Angeles Clippers 125-99 on Sunday. Nick Nurse’s team fell behind by 19 points in the first quarter and allowed the Clippers to shoot 58 percent from the field.
Philadelphia has been plagued by injuries, with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Kyle Lowry all sidelined. The team announced on Monday that all three players will miss the matchup against Houston. Amid these challenges, the 76ers hold one of the worst records in the league at 3-13. Rookie guard Jared McCain has been a bright spot, averaging 16.6 points per game, although he struggled with his shooting in Sunday’s loss.
Philadelphia has dominated recent matchups with Houston, winning eight of the last nine encounters, including both games last season.
