NBA wrap: 76ers dismantle Rockets; James Harden scores under 40

Philadelphia 76ers kept Harden under 40 points as it handed Houston its largest loss of the season, 121-93.

Published : Jan 22, 2019 12:16 IST

Joel Embiid finished with a team-high 32 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers.
Joel Embiid finished with a team-high 32 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers.
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Joel Embiid finished with a team-high 32 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers.

Philadelphia 76ers had an answer for Rockets star James Harden. While Harden managed to have his 20th consecutive game scoring 30-or-more-points, Philadelphia kept him under the dangerous 40-point mark and handed Houston Rockets its largest loss of the season, 121-93.

 

Joel Embiid finished with a team-high 32 points and 14 rebounds. He also played an important role on defense with Jimmy Butler sidelined because of a sprained wrist. Embiid finished with three blocks. JJ Redick and Corey Brewer added 16 and 11 points, respectively. Landry Shamet had 18 points off the bench.

Harden scored 37 points in the Rockets' losing efforts. The 2018 MVP got off to a hot start and scored 27 in the first half.

 

The Rockets trailed by 15 points at the half and a 13-point performance in the third quarter put Houston in a deficit it couldn't bounce back from. Gerald Green chipped in 18 points off the bench. Kenneth Faried added 13 in his first game with the Rockets.

Studs of the Night

Luka Doncic became the second-youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. The 19-year-old rookie finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the Mavericks' 116-106 loss to the Bucks.

READ | Doncic becomes second-youngest player to record triple-double

 

Klay Thompson set an NBA record in the Golden State Warriors' rout of the Los Angeles Lakers. The four-time All-Star became the first player to make 10 consecutive three-pointers without a miss. He finished with 44 points in 26 minutes. Thompson was 17 of 20 from the field and 10 of 11 from long distance. Golden State went on to win 130-111.

 

Nets guard D'Angelo Russell had 31 points in his team's 123-94 win over Sacramento. Russell shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.

Nikola Vucevic used a double-double to help push the Magic ahead of the hosting Hawks. Vucevic finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds in Orlando's 122-103 win.

 

Thunder forward Paul George had his second consecutive game scoring 31 points. The forward led Oklahoma City to a 127-109 win over the Knicks.

Duds of the Night

Cleveland Cavaliers might be a regular in this category after its loss to the Bulls moved it to 9-39. Starters Rodney Hood and Alec Burks didn't provide much help in the 104-88 rout. Hood finished with just four points on 1-of-8 shooting while Burks had a lone 3-pointer in 17 minutes of play.

JaMychal Green and Shelvin Mack scored little off the bench for the Grizzlies. The two finished minus 17 in Memphis' 105-85 loss to New Orleans. 

Highlights

The Mavs rookie impressed, but Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure to give Doncic his own special welcome. Antetokounmpo had a game-high 31 points in the Bucks' win.

 

No one could stop Zach LaVine. He had a game-high 25 points in Chicago's first win in the new year, including this one-handed dunk.

Kyrie Irving tallied eight steals to go along with 26 points in the Celtics' 107-99 win over the Heat.

 

 

What's Next?

Clippers (25-21) at Mavericks (20-26), 8:30 p.m. ET — When the Mavs host the Clippers on Tuesday, they will likely see the return of Dennis Smith Jr, who has missed the past five games because of a back injury and illness while also being at the center of trade rumors. He will join Doncic as they try to break Dallas' four game losing streak. Los Angeles will enter the matchup off its first win in six games. 

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