Comeback Kings: Rockets Storm Past 76ers, 144-137, in OT Thriller to Win 7th Straight
March Madness: NBA Style. The Jalen and Jabari Show. Streaking.
In one of the craziest NBA games of the entire season, the Rockets rallied from a 25-point deficit to stun the 76ers, 144-137, in overtime on Monday night. Houston’s comeback from a quarter down is tied for the largest in their franchise’s history. The win gives the Rockets their seventh straight win, as Houston completes their longest homestand of the season with a 6-0 record. This game was truly the NBA’s version of March Madness. The Sixers led by 25 points, 88-63, with a little under ten minutes remaining in the third quarter. By the end of the period, the Rockets had completely erased this deficit, finishing the quarter on a 39-14 run to tie the game entering the final quarter. In the final frame, Philly built multiple ten point leads, but Houston rallied each time. The Rockets used a 10-2 run at the end of the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
The play of the game came at the end of regulation, as Jabari Smith Jr. perfectly missed a free throw on purpose, which then allowed Alperen Sengun to rebound the ball and tip it in to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Sixers had a few seconds to score after Sengun’s tip, but couldn’t capitalize. And in overtime, the Rockets finally grabbed a lead for good, as they outscored the Sixers 13-6 in extra time en route to the win. Sengun dominated in OT after being benched for most of the fourth quarter.
Incredibly, Houston didn’t hold a lead in this game until overtime. The Rockets trailed nearly the duration of regular time, besides tying it in a few key possessions. Philly’s Quentin Grimes arguably had the best performance of any Houston opponent this season. Grimes exploded for a career-high 46 points on some absolutely ridiculous Steph Curry-like shots, and grabbed 13 rebounds. Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. essentially saved the Rockets, as both players led Houston with 30 points. Tari Eason scored 21 points, but was ejected after arguing a call that got him fouled out. Fred VanVleet was also tossed from the game after he was assessed a questionable Flagrant 2 penalty on a defensive play in transition. And Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, but fouled out late in overtime, as the Rockets had lost three key players at that points besides the already sidelined Amen Thompson.
Houston still found a way to win, and willed themselves back into this game, beating a Sixers team that played incredibly hard and hit some tough shots in the process, especially in the first half. Despite being severely undermanned, Philly nearly pulled off the upset. One could say the Rockets got the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but they won, and at this point in the season, that’s all that matters.
After their historic comeback on Monday night, Houston currently now has the NBA’s longest winning streak, at seven games. The Rockets will hit the road next for a couple fo games in Florida against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, both very winnable matchups for Houston. Only thirteen games remain in the season for the Rockets, as they strive to hang on to the West’s second seed in what should be a thrilling finish to the NBA’s regular season.