National Basketball Association
Philadelphia 121, Houston 93
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, January 21, 2019
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #52 Scott Twardoski, #20 Leroy Richardson
Attendance: 20313

Joel Embiid scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to carry the host Philadelphia 76ers to an easy 121-93 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday.

It was the 39th double-double this season for Embiid, who had been listed as questionable for the game due to a sore lower back. Embiid and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who also registered a double-double on Monday, are tied for the league lead in double-doubles.

Embiid played only 26 minutes before leaving with the Sixers up by 30 points less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Landry Shamet scored 18 points and JJ Redick added 16 for the Sixers, who played without guard Jimmy Butler (sprained right wrist). T.J. McConnell contributed 12 points and Corey Brewer had 11.

James Harden paced the Rockets with 37 points, his 20th consecutive game with at least 30. Gerald Green scored 18 points while Kenneth Faried contributed 13 in his Houston debut after the team waived James Nunnally.

The Rockets continue to be short-handed without key injured players such as center Clint Capela and guard Chris Paul.

Embiid had 14 points and five rebounds as the Sixers pushed to a 30-26 lead to end the first quarter. Harden kept the Rockets close with 12 points in the opening 12 minutes.

The game became quite chippy throughout the second quarter with three technical fouls issued, including one at halftime on Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni. The Sixers led 65-50 at the break behind Embiid's 24 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Harden scored 15 in the second to give him 27 by the half.

The Sixers bolted to a 77-52 lead early in the third quarter as the Rockets struggled with their shooting, misfiring on their first nine shots in the period.

Philadelphia continued with relentless defensive pressure and pushed to a 94-63 advantage at the end of the third.

The Sixers built more than enough of a cushion to cruise the entire fourth on their way to another home win, their 20th in 25 home games this season.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Houston   Philadelphia
James Harden 37 Scoring Joel Embiid 32
James Harden 3 Assists Ben Simmons 6
Kenneth Faried 6 Rebounds Wilson Chandler 14
James Harden 7 Free Throws Made Joel Embiid 14
James Ennis III 4 Steals Corey Brewer 2
Gary Clark 2 Blocks Jonah Bolden 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Houston 93 36.0 11-42 20-26 14 38 6 9 12
Philadelphia 121 48.9 8-23 27-33 21 55 14 9 13
Upcoming Games
  • Philadelphia will play their next game at home against San Antonio. The 76ers have a W/L % of .567 after a win and .778 after a loss.
  • Houston will play their next game on the road against New York. The Rockets have a W/L % of .593 after a win and .526 after a loss.