Jalen Green shook off a slow shooting start to score a game-high 29 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough for a young Houston squad to win in Monday’s 123-104 road loss (box score) versus James Harden and the veteran-laden 76ers. The Rockets (13-44) have lost six straight games, while Philadelphia (37-19) has won its last three.
Harden, a former Rockets star and a potential free agent target in the 2023 offseason, led the 76ers with 28 points and 10 assists on 9-of-18 shooting (50.0%) and 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%).
Green shot 1-of-10 in the first half but recovered to make 5-of-10 shots in the second half. Most importantly, he drew a career-high 17 free-throw attempts, making 15 of them (88.2%).
Ultimately, it was a game where the Rockets were defeated by math and a lack of shooting. Houston made just 6-of-24 shots (25%) from 3-point range, while the Sixers hit 15-of-34 (44.1%). Of those six makes, several came after the game had long been decided.
Besides Green, other Houston players in double figures were:
- Alperen Sengun: 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%)
- KJ Martin: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%)
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 10 points, 12 rebounds, 3-of-14 shooting (21.4%), 1-of-4 on 3-pointers (25.0%)
Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston, as its three-game road trip concludes heading into the 2023 All-Star break, is Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma City. Tipoff from Paycom Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central.