Game ID: 22500628
Houston Rockets @ Philadelphia 76ers
Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
PHI 32 36 22 25 13 128HOU 34 27 27 27 7 122
HOU @ PHI ScoutingHOU @ PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHI availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 10 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Oubre Jr. back 1/07 after 22, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/07 after 2, 16 min since (88% of 18)
BACK Watford back 1/07 after 17, 3 min since (19% of 15)
BACK Edwards back 1/07 after 3, 4 min since (25% of 15)
PHI availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 11 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Oubre Jr. back 1/07 after 22, 25 min since (78% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/07 after 2, 15 min since (82% of 18)
BACK Watford back 1/07 after 17, 6 min since (42% of 15)
BACK Edwards back 1/07 after 3, 5 min since (31% of 15)
PHI availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 12 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 1/12 after 2, 4 min since (27% of 15)
PHI availability going into 1/20 · back-to-backOUT Drummond missed 2 since 1/16, returns tonight: 22 min (118% of 18)
OUT Gordon missed 13 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 1/12 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 15)
PHI availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 2 since 1/19, returns tonight: 36 min (114% of 32)
OUT Gordon missed 14 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Drummond back 1/20 after 2, 22 min since (118% of 18)
BACK Edwards back 1/12 after 2, 5 min since (35% of 15)
PHI availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT McCain missed 2 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 15 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK George back 1/22 after 2, 36 min since (114% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/20 after 2, 22 min since (118% of 18)
PHI availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Drummond missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 19 min (104% of 18)
OUT McCain missed 3 since 1/20, returns tonight: 23 min (136% of 17)
OUT Edwards missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 16 min (110% of 15)
OUT Gordon missed 16 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 20 min (178% of 11)
BACK George back 1/22 after 2, 34 min since (108% of 32)
NEW Embiid 32 to 37 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 1/27 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 17 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK George back 1/22 after 2, 34 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/20 after 2, 21 min since (111% of 18)
BACK McCain back 1/26 after 3, 23 min since (136% of 17)
BACK Edwards back 1/26 after 2, 16 min since (110% of 15)
BACK Walker back 1/26 after 2, 20 min since (178% of 11)
NEW Embiid 32 to 38 min over the last 3
PHI availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 18 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK George back 1/22 after 2, 34 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/20 after 2, 21 min since (111% of 18)
BACK McCain back 1/26 after 3, 24 min since (140% of 17)
BACK Edwards back 1/26 after 2, 20 min since (137% of 15)
BACK Walker back 1/26 after 2, 11 min since (99% of 11)
NEW Embiid 32 to 37 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 27 min since (119% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 1/13, returns tonight: 16 min (99% of 16)
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 35 min since (103% of 34)
HOU availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (99% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 5 since 1/11, returns tonight: 20 min (75% of 26)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 20 min since (75% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (96% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/23 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 4 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 5 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
NEW Okogie 17 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 6 since 1/16, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 14)
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backBACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 1 min since (6% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Maxey at 24 a game. Without George (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Sengun at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Philadelphia minus-3. Call it Philadelphia 114, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/14 vs CLE 107-133 — PHI notes
PHI lost 107-133. PHI shot 40% (36 of 89) to CLE's 53%, 12 of 43 from three, and went to the line 26 times to CLE's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 42-52 against them. Embiid led with 20 (7 of 14, 2 of 5 from three); George added 17, Maxey 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-27, the deficit cut from 15 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 106-78 against them. Maxey's -22 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 vs CLE 115-117 — PHI notes
PHI lost 115-117. PHI shot 47% (43 of 91) to CLE's 52%, 12 of 32 from three. PHI turned it over 10 times to CLE's 18. Embiid led with 33 (10 of 22, 2 of 3 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Maxey added 22, Grimes 14. Q2 was theirs, 31-24, but the other 3 periods went 93-84 against them. They led by as many as 11.
1/19 vs IND 113-104 — PHI notes
PHI won 113-104. PHI shot 48% (42 of 88) to IND's 48%, 5 of 17 from three, and went to the line 36 times to IND's 14 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. PHI turned it over 8 times to IND's 22. Embiid led with 30 (10 of 17, 9 of 10 at the line); Maxey added 29, Oubre Jr. 18. The hinge was Q4, 31-23: a lead of 1 became 9, and the lead reached 16. PHI trailed 50-55 at the half and won the second half 63-49. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/20 vs PHX 110-116 — PHI notes
PHI lost 110-116. PHI shot 42% (39 of 93) to PHX's 43%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 27 times to PHX's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 20. Edgecombe led with 25 (10 of 21, 2 of 7 from three); Oubre Jr. added 21, Maxey 20. Q4 was theirs, 26-19, the deficit cut from 13 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 97-84 against them. Edwards's -17 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 vs HOU 128-122 — PHI notes
PHI won 128-122 in 1 overtime. PHI shot 55% (49 of 89) to HOU's 46%, 11 of 32 from three. Maxey led with 36 (15 of 28, 2 of 10 from three); Embiid added 32, Oubre Jr. 26. The hinge was Q2, 36-27: PHI came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 7. Embiid was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/24 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Embiid at 29 and Maxey at 24 a game. Without McCain (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 18 and McBride at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Philadelphia minus-3 and the defense, New York allowing 105 a night to Philadelphia's 118. Call it Philadelphia 114, New York 113, New York keeping it close.
1/26 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Miller at 23 and Knueppel at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Hall (8 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Embiid at 33 and Maxey at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Drummond (2 straight), McCain (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and Philadelphia minus-4 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 106 a night to Philadelphia's 114. Call it Charlotte 115, Philadelphia 112, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/27 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Embiid at 33 and Maxey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 22 and Portis at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight), Prince (36 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 37 percent from three to Philadelphia's 32 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 27 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 20. Call it Philadelphia 116, Milwaukee 111.
1/29 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Embiid at 33 and Maxey at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and Monk at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (12 straight), LaVine (2 straight), Plowden (36 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Sacramento's 32. Call it Philadelphia 120, Sacramento 113.
1/15 vs OKC 91-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 91-111. HOU took 15 more shots (104 to 89), fed by 23 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to OKC's 46%, 7 of 24 from three. The glass went 60-44 for them. Durant led with 19 (7 of 23, 0 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 17, Sengun 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 89-64 against them. Durant's -20 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 vs MIN 110-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 110-105. HOU shot 46% (39 of 84) to MIN's 46%, 12 of 28 from three. Durant led with 39 (11 of 18, 6 of 8 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); Sengun added 25, Thompson 14. The hinge was Q4, 29-23: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. HOU trailed 53-55 at the half and won the second half 57-50. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/18 vs NOP 119-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-110. HOU shot 50% (45 of 90) to NOP's 50%, 13 of 36 from three, and went to the line 22 times to NOP's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. Smith Jr. led with 32 (11 of 21, 7 of 13 from three); Sengun added 21, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-24: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 19.
1/20 vs SAS 111-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-106. HOU shot 52% (43 of 83) to SAS's 39%, 10 of 27 from three, and went to the line 22 times to SAS's 10 — 15 points from the stripe to their 10. HOU turned it over 14 times to SAS's 9. Sheppard led with 21 (8 of 17, 4 of 10 from three); Sengun added 20, Durant 18. The hinge was Q4, 29-14: HOU came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 5. HOU trailed 60-70 at the half and won the second half 51-36. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/22 @ PHI 122-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 122-128 in 1 overtime. HOU took 10 more shots (99 to 89), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to PHI's 55%, 18 of 40 from three. Durant led with 36 (13 of 21, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 17, Sheppard 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 4 periods went 106-95 against them. Sengun's -18 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/23 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 98, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Duren at 17 and Robinson at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 98 a night to Houston's 112 and the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Detroit's 34. Call it Detroit 114, Houston 107.
1/26 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 20 and Coward at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Mashack (4 straight), Pippen Jr. (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Memphis's 35 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Memphis's 118. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 111.
1/28 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 21 a game. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Fox at 19 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-3 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 15 times a game to San Antonio's 11. Call it Houston 115, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/29 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Risacher (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 41 percent from three to Houston's 37. Call it Atlanta 115, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHIAB A. Bona
DB D. Barlow
JE J. Embiid
KO K. Oubre Jr.
PG P. George
QG Q. Grimes
TM T. Maxey
TW T. Watford
VE V. Edgecombe
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
PHI/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Maxey scores 36, Embiid has triple-double in 76ers' 128-122 overtime win over the Rockets
PHILADELPHIA -- — Tyrese Maxey scored six of his 36 points in overtime, Joel Embiid had 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Houston Rockets 128-122 on Thursday night.
Kelly Oubre Jr . added 26 points for the 76ers, who evened their home record at 12-12. Paul George returned to the lineup for Philadelphia after missing two straight games due to left knee injury management and had 10 points.
Kevin Durant scored 36 points for the Rockets, who had won three in a row. Amen Thompson added 17 for Houston.
The 76ers scored the first five points of the extra session, on George’s 3-pointer and VJ Edgecombe’s follow from close range after he grabbed an offensive rebound, to take control.
Philadelphia had a chance to win it in regulation, but Durant blocked Maxey’s driving layup attempt with 13.2 seconds left. Maxey added 10 assists.
The 76ers opened up a 94-88 lead early in the fourth quarter, but it took 3:23 for Philadelphia to score another point. Reed Sheppard’s third 3-pointer of the quarter put Houston up 105-96 with 6:25 remaining. The 76ers tied it twice late in regulation, the last on Maxey’s layup with 40.1 seconds left.
Aaron Holiday (back spasms) was downgraded from questionable to out for the Rockets. Houston also was without center Steven Adams (left ankle sprain).
Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who led the 76ers to the 1983 NBA title, was in attendance.