2 weeks Ago By Field Level Media
Jalen Green scored a season-high 41 points and Alperen Sengun came up big in overtime as the Houston Rockets posted a 122-115 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Sengun (22 points, 14 rebounds) and Amen Thompson (19 and 13) each registered a double-double for Houston, which completed a sweep of its brief two-game trip after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime on Tuesday night. Tyrese Maxey posted 39 points and 10 assists and Guerschon Yabusele chipped in 22 points for Philadelphia, which continued to play without Joel Embiid (knee), Paul George (knee) and Kyle Lowry (hip).
Caleb Martin (back) also sat out as the Sixers fell to 3-14 this season despite rallying from an eight-point deficit late in regulation. Philadelphia took a three-point lead early in overtime, but Green tied it with three free throws before Sengun took over. His tip-in gave Houston the lead, and then he made another tip-in and finally a spinning layup for a 117-111 advantage with 1:20 to play.
Sengun also had a key blocked shot on Maxey -- on a play that was originally ruled a goaltend -- that helped seal the win with 30.5 seconds left. Maxey drained a 3-pointer with 3:27 left in regulation to bring the hosts within 104-100, but Sengun responded with two free throws and then found Thompson for a layup to give the Rockets an eight-point lead with 1:59 left.
Philadelphia quickly whittled the deficit to 108-105 and then Maxey was fouled on a wild 3-point attempt (and made all three free throws) with 11.1 seconds remaining. Houston drew up a play for Sengun to end regulation, but his isolation attempt was futile as the game went to overtime.
Green dominated the first quarter, scoring 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including three 3-pointers, as Houston sailed to a 35-24 advantage. He scored 14 straight points for Houston early in the game but was held to three points in the second quarter as the Sixers inched within 55-51 at the break. The Rockets scored the final five points of the third quarter -- capped by Aaron Holiday's 3-pointer -- to carry an 88-82 lead into the fourth.
This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission..
