PLAYER GRADES: Philadelphia 76ers 121, Houston Rockets 93
By Ryan Wohl
The Philadelphia 76ers put on a show Monday night, thoroughly outplaying the injury-riddled Houston Rockets.
The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back after a disappointing loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, as they destroyed the Houston Rockets by a score of 121-93. The Sixers didn’t nessicary shut down James Harden, as he still had 37 points, but they contained everyone else on the Rockets. They did not let one guy beat them in this game.
The Sixers were missing Jimmy Butler in this game with a sprained right wrist, but they didn’t need him in this one because Joel Embiid and Corey Brewer came to play against Houston. Outside of the first quarter, Houston was never really in this game. Everyone is starting to see that if Chris Paul and Clint Capela do not come back 100 percent and give Harden a second and third scoring option, the Rockets could be looking at first round NBA Playoffs exit.
Philly has a tough stretch of games coming up so it was good to see them win against a good team that was shorthanded at home. Let’s take a look at some player grades below.
A+. <strong>27 mins | 34 pts | 14 reb | 2 ast | 2 stl | 3 blk | 2 TO | 9-16 FG | 0-1 3PT| 14-17 FT | 3 PF | +21|</strong><p>Joel Embiid was very efficient tonight, shooting 56 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. JoJo was exposing Houston’s poor big men (<a rel=. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID
Philadelphia 76ers. COREY BREWER. A. <strong>33 mins | 11 pts | 3 reb | 1 ast | 2 stl | 2 blk | 3 TO | 5-10 FG | 0-1 3PT| 1-A2 FT | 3 PF | +17|</strong><p>In Corey’s fourth game with the 76ers and his second game getting playing time, he shined while replacing Jimmy Bulter in the team’s starting lineup. Even though James Harden scored 37 points against the Sixers, when Brewer was guarding him he did a good job of getting into his head. Also on offense we saw him moving without the ball, setting picks, and cutting to the basket. He showed Coach Brett Brown and Philadelphia that he is a hard-worker, team player, and a good defensive player. It seems as of right now that GM <a rel=. SG/SF
Philadelphia 76ers. LANDRY SHAMET. B+. <strong>20 mins | 18 pts | 1 reb | 0 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 7-13 FG | 3-6 3PT| 1-1 FT | 3 PF | +5|</strong><p>Landry was great off the bench tonight, hitting a few three-pointers while adding to the Sixers’ 28-point win late in the game. Shamet has been one of the best rookies this season when shooting from downtown, shooting over 40 percent in that area this year. Brett Brown trusts <a rel=. SG
C+. <strong>28 mins | 9 pts | 6 reb | 6 ast | 1 stl | 2 blk | 2 TO | 3-12 FG | 0-0 3PT| 3-4 FT | 2 PF | +18|</strong><p><a rel=. PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS
B-. <strong>27 mins | 9 pts | 14 reb | 3 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 4-4 FG | 1-1 3PT| 0-0 FT | 1 PF | +20|</strong><p>Chandler was very solid tonight especially on the defensive boards, getting his highest rebound total as a Sixer. Wilson has started to play much better in the last five games, as he has had at least nine points in three of the last five games. This is a forgotten key part for the 76ers to make a strong playoff push later in the season. They have needed to get more production from their starting power forward position, as across the first half of this year that spot for them hasn’t provided a lot.</p>. PF. Philadelphia 76ers. WILSON CHANDLER
The philadelphia 76ers are 2-1 in what looks to be one of the toughest 12-game stretches of the 2018-19 season. Also toward the end of January and continuing in the beginning of February, the team goes out west for a very hard road trip.
If the team can go .500 down this tough stretch of games, I would be very happy, as Philly lacks depth and has some lingering injuries with key players. With the Feb. 7 trade deadline approaching, don’t be surprised if Elton Brand goes out there to add a veteran wing to come off the bench to provide defense and three-point shooting.
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Their next game will be against the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night. In the coming days we will have to see how long Jimmy Butler’s sprained wrist will hold him out of Philadelphia’s lineup, which will affect Philly’s hard matches against playoff teams.