Unfazed by critical interference calls missed! 76ers' duo scores 68 points to win in overtime against Rockets, Durant with 36 points and 8 turnovers

On January 23rd Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the 76ers defeating the Rockets 128-122 in overtime, ending their opponent’s three-game winning streak. Durant scored 36 points and grabbed 7 rebounds but also had 8 turnovers. The Rockets were down by 7 at halftime and surged with a 17-2 run in the fourth quarter to overtake the 76ers, yet the game went into overtime. If not for a key missed call by the referees, the 76ers could have won in regulation. In overtime, the 76ers performed better and secured the victory. Embiid and Maxey combined for 68 points.

Statistics

Rockets: Durant 36 points, 7 rebounds, 8 turnovers; Amen 17 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals; Sengun 13 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks; S. Smith Jr. 13 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists; Okogie 8 points; Shepard 14 points, 4 assists; Eason 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals; F. Smith 6 points; Capela 2 points, 7 rebounds

76ers: Embiid 32 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists; Maxey 36 points, 10 assists; Oubre 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; George 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; E. Okonkwo 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; Barlow 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Waterford 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Player of the Game

Maxey and Embiid delivered outstanding performances to help the 76ers win in overtime against the Rockets.

Crucial Missed Call

Maxey’s layup near the end of the fourth quarter was blocked after hitting the backboard by a Rockets player. However, due to the rules, this clear interference could not be challenged, and the game went into overtime. The home crowd booed the referees loudly.

Game Recap

In the first quarter, George and Amen exchanged powerful dunks, Durant completed a three-point play, and Oubre scored five consecutive points. S. Smith Jr. and E. Okonkwo followed with dunks, Sengun made a three-pointer, Oubre converted a and-1, and S. Smith Jr. hit a three, giving the Rockets a 7-point lead. Embiid dunked, Amen made a and-1, E. Okonkwo and Maxey hit consecutive threes, tying the game. Durant made a mid-range jumper, while Okogie, F. Smith, and Eason also hit threes. Barlow and Oubre responded from outside. The quarter ended with the Rockets leading 34-32.

In the second quarter, Durant completed a three-point play, Embiid scored five straight points, and Grimes dunked a three-point play, giving the 76ers a 5-point lead. Shepard hit a three, Sengun scored a layup, Durant made a mid-range jumper, and Okogie drained a three to put the Rockets back ahead. Durant and Embiid went to the free-throw line consecutively, Maxey stole the ball and scored on a floater, Oubre hit a three, and Maxey dunked as the 76ers went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead. Sengun scored inside, Embiid hit a mid-range jumper, Durant committed his fifth turnover, and Maxey stole and dunked again. At halftime, the 76ers led 68-61 over the Rockets.

By halftime, three Rockets players scored in double digits: Durant with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 turnovers; Amen with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals; Sengun with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. The 76ers also had three players in double digits: Embiid with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Oubre with 16 points; and Maxey with 12 points, 5 assists, 2 steals.

After the break, Durant hit back-to-back threes, Amen scored a layup, and the Rockets went on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 1 point. Maxey hit a three, Embiid and Oubre scored layups, and the 76ers responded with an 8-2 run. Durant made another three, Maxey scored on a floater, Oubre dunked, and Sengun and S. Smith Jr. followed with dunks. Oubre kept scoring, pushing the 76ers' lead to 9 points. Shepard made a mid-range jumper, Amen and Eason scored layups, and F. Smith hit a three as the Rockets went on a 9-0 run to tie the game. George scored a mid-range jumper, and the third quarter ended with the 76ers leading 90-88.

In the final quarter, Embiid scored a mid-range jumper, Waterford made a layup, Durant scored on a hook shot, and Shepard hit a three-pointer while drawing a foul on Grimes, but missed the free throw. Capela slammed an alley-oop dunk, S. Smith Jr. dunked, Durant hit a mid-range jumper, and Shepard made another three as the Rockets went on a 17-2 run to take a 9-point lead over the 76ers. Embiid hit a three, S. Smith Jr. dunked again, Eason made a three-pointer, and Maxey scored 7 straight points. Eason hit another three, George and Maxey scored consecutively to tie the game. Durant made a mid-range jumper, George stole the ball from Durant, and Maxey tied the game again. Durant missed a mid-range jumper, with 13.2 seconds left in regulation. Although Durant blocked Maxey, slow-motion replay showed Maxey’s layup touched the backboard first. Due to the rules, this clear interference could not be reviewed. The referees called a jump ball, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, George made a three-pointer, E. Okonkwo scored on a put-back, Durant hit a three, and Amen scored a layup, leveling the score. Maxey scored a layup, George blocked Sengun, and Oubre made a layup, giving the 76ers a 4-point lead. Durant committed an offensive foul, marking his 8th turnover. He then scored a mid-range jumper, but the Rockets still trailed by two. The Rockets fouled strategically, Maxey made two free throws, then successfully stole the ball from Amen and completed a dunk. Ultimately, the 76ers won in overtime against the Rockets.

Starting Lineups

Rockets: Amen, Okogie, S. Smith Jr., Durant, Sengun

76ers: Maxey, E. Okonkwo, George, Oubre, Embiid