GRADES: Sixers dismantle undermanned Rockets

The Sixers made quick work of the under-manned Houston Rockets as they bolstered their lead in the Eastern Conference to a full two games.

Despite Houston being heavily outmatched, the game played into their hands with an up-and-down tempo. After being tied at 28 with 2:36 remaining, Ben Simmons and Shake Milton propelled them forward closing out the quarter, 39-30.

The second quarter maintained the pace. Philadelphia and Houston combined for 69 points in each of the opening quarters as Kenyon Martin Jr. and Kelly Olynyk operated a two-man game while Philadelphia matched them every step of the way.

As the teams entered the half, Philadelphia led 75-63.

Joel Embiid took over in the third quarter. Both teams scored efficiently, but with less of a break-neck pace. Embiid put himself in the paint and enforced his will as he scored 17 in the quarter.

Houston’s offense tried to keep it tight, but the margin had blossomed to a 17-point spread entering the fourth, 108-91.

Playing their fourth game in six days, with two more over the next three, Doc Rivers got the bench in and starters down.

Unlike some of the previous nights, Philadelphia not only held their lead but won the quarter. Dwight Howard contributed eight points in the fourth and Shake Milton stepped up with Furkan Korkmaz out from his ankle injury earlier in the week.

The bench put Houston away and brought Philadelphia their sixth straight victory as they took down Houston, 135-115.

Grades from the Sixers’ sixth straight W — a dominant victory over the lowly Rockets, who only dressed eight players.

25 mins | 34 pts | 12 reb | 2 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 3 TO | 10-17 FG | 0-2 3PT| 14-16 FT | 1 PF | +9 |

34 and 12 in less than 25 minutes. Embiid shot 67 percent from inside the arc and knocked down 14-16 free throws. He absolutely imposed his will and Houston had no one available to do anything about it.

16 mins | 10 pts | 8 reb | 0 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 0 TO | 5-5 FG | 0-0 3PT| 0-0 FT | 4 PF | +17 |

Howard shows up and does his job. Perfect shooting from the field while grabbing rebounds and providing vertical spacing. Howard has a strong argument for the best backup center in the league. Only knock, he had four fouls in 16 minutes.

23 mins | 19 pts | 2 reb | 1 ast | 1 stl | 2 blk | 0 TO | 8-17 FG | 3-7 3PT| 0-0 FT | 1 PF | +12 |

Milton continues to provide on-ball creativity that lifts the second unit. Simmons has been taking less command and Tobias Harris has gone from no-doubt all-star play to playing well. Milton has filled that creativity lag.

20 mins | 5 pts | 2 reb | 2 ast | 3 stl | 3 blk | 2 TO | 2-3 FG | 1-2 3PT| 0-0 FT | 0 PF | +24 |

A look at Matisse Thybulle’s box score might leave someone unimpressed. He is on a team with a likely DPOY and another candidate for both DPOY and MVP. Don’t be mistaken; Thybulle is the best defender in Philadelphia. His activity starts it, natural timing makes it, intelligence completes it. Thybulle added three steals and four blocks en route to another dominant game on that end.

22 mins | 12 pts | 4 reb | 7 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 3 TO | 4-9 FG | 2-4 3PT| 2-2 FT | 0 PF | +12 |

A nearly perfect scoring card for Philadelphia tonight. Tyrese Maxey hasn’t been receiving the most consistent run and that’s okay. When he has been given chances, he’s played well offensively and is absolutely trying on defense. His effort and giddy bounciness on defense aren’t easily taught, it’s part of who he is. Microwave scoring potential who flashed lead guard passing tonight, it was a great performance that should excite fans for the future.

Houston’s season doesn’t get any easier as they head to Milwaukee on Friday night. As for the first-place Philadelphia 76ers, they will host New Orleans on Friday as they try to get that much closer to locking in the number one seed.