Rockets pick up their second overtime win in as many nights, 122-115 over Philly

The Houston Rockets arrived in Philadelphia at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning after winning their NBA Cup bracket in overtime versus Minnesota Timberwolves. The day before Thanksgiving is playing against a three-win streak 76ers team, the Rockets could have easily dispatched this one, but as they have become accustomed to doing, they battled back and got their back-to-back overtime win on the road, winning 122-115.

With five players scoring in double figures, it was Jalen Green’s 18-point first quarter that got the Rockets going early. Coming off a game in which he was listed as questionable with an illness, he appeared to have his legs early. He finished the game with 41 points on 60 percent shooting, hitting four three-pointers and sinking 13/14 from the free throw line. He was a major contributor to the victory, especially as Sengun struggled offensively in the first half.

The “Terror Twins” did what they always do, combining for 33 points and 20 rebounds off the bench. Amen added three steals and three blocks. Amen’s defense on Tyrese Maxey, especially down the stretch, was key. He scored 39 points, but he took 34 shots to get it. The Rockets continue to show that defense and rebounding can make up for many of their other deficiencies. Again in the second and fourth quarters, they struggled to score the basketball, but their defense on offensive rebounds kept the 76ers at arm’s length going into overtime.

Overtime is where Alperen Sengun took over the game. Redeeming himself for not winning the game in regulation, he scored 11 of the Rockets’ 15 points in overtime. But the biggest play he made all night was the Olajuwon-esque fingernail block of a Tyrese Maxey layup that was initially called a layup, but after review was ruled a pure block. He finished the game with three assists, coming off his second straight triple-double, with 22 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. For consecutive nights, Ime Udoka has now relied on his big man in crunch time and Sengun delivered.

Now, the Rockets can enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday at home with their families as they do not play another game on Sunday, December 1, at the Toyota Center against the OKC Thunder. they’ll want to be well-fed and well-rested for that game, as the Thunder are the only team this season to clearly outscore the Rockets this season. However, they can start worrying about that on Friday. They must enjoy what they have achieved in the last 48 hours. They have shown that they are growing up and learning to win. We can all be grateful for that.