Rockets at 76ers
Reigning NBA MVP James Harden looks to extend his remarkable streak of scoring at least 30 points in a game to 20 straight when his Houston Rockets visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Harden is averaging 54.3 points over the last three contests, including 48 as the Rockets rallied from 18 points down in the second half Saturday to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 138-134 in overtime.
Houston has cooled off a bit while alternating victories in the last nine outings, but is just one game out of third place in the Western Conference after starting the season with 14 losses in the first 25 contests. Harden was held to an average of 28 points in two games last season against Philadelphia, who snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Rockets with a 115-107 triumph in the last meeting as Ben Simmons registered 24 points and nine assists. The 76ers saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday with a 117-115 setback against Oklahoma City at home as they turned the ball over 17 times overall and allowed a four-point play by Paul George with 5.1 seconds left. Joel Embiid has connected on 30-of-55 from the field over the last three contests for Philadelphia, but teammate Jimmy Butler must rebound from a 5-of-18 shooting performance Saturday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (26-19): Guard Eric Gordon has stepped up to score 50 points combined in the last two games, including 30 against the Lakers with five 3-pointers and four assists. “It takes a lot of burden off me,” Harden said of Gordon’s performance. “He’s so offensively gifted and talented being able to shoot the basketball, being able to get to the rim, being able to make plays for others. You get a guy like that on the floor with you it makes it easier for not only myself but for everybody.” Point guard Chris Paul (hamstring) could return as early as this week after missing the last 14 games.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (30-17): Embiid is the first Philadelphia player to score at least 30 points in 20 of his first 45 games of a season since Allen Iverson (2005-06) and averages 27.0 to go along with 13.2 rebounds - fourth in the league entering Sunday. Simmons (16.6 points, 9.5 rebounds) has scored at least 20 in four of his last five games and leads the team in assists (8.2) while Butler has contributed 19 points per game since arriving from Minnesota in a trade. Shooting guard JJ Redick is averaging 19.8 points and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range over the last five contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Philadelphia G Landry Shamet has connected on 5-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc over the last two contests.
2. Houston G Gerald Green is averaging 15.3 points over the last three games while draining 13-of-37 from behind the 3-point arc.
3. The Rockets lead the league with 15.6 made 3-pointers per game and the 76ers are allowing 10.3 - tied for sixth fewest.