In a rematch from one week earlier in Philadelphia, the Rockets will look to somehow get some revenge against Joel Embiid and the heavily favored 76ers when they make a return visit to Houston on Monday night. It’s the finale of a three-game homestand at Toyota Center.
Led by a 30-point triple-double by Embiid, a perennial All-Star center and MVP candidate, the Sixers won last Monday’s game by 20. But Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr., who missed that first meeting due to suspensions, should be available to the Rockets for the rematch.
The Rockets are facing the new challenge of a back-to-back, though that hurdle is mitigated somewhat since both games are in Houston. Owing to reduced logistics, head coach Stephen Silas said Sunday that the Rockets did not anticipate having any players resting on Monday.
The biggest problem for the Rockets continues to be defense. They are 1-10 in their last 11 games, and they have allowed 130 or more points in five of those outings — including 141 on Sunday versus Minnesota.
After not playing Sunday, veteran center Daniel Theis could be a defensive consideration to try and physically match up with Embiid. However it remains to be seen if Houston can score enough points in such an arrangement — since it harms the team’s desired floor spacing.
The Sixers enter Monday with six straight victories overall.
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