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NBA: 76ers nearly blow 29-point lead before outlasting Rockets

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Field Level Media/Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/02/18/houston.jpg"/><figcaption>Houston Rockets center DeMarcus Cousins (15) blocks the shot attempt of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. <em>Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Joel Embiid had 31 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, Seth Curry added 25 points and the host Philadelphia 76ers nearly blew a 29-point, second-half lead to defeat the Houston Rockets 118-113 on Wednesday.</p><p>Embiid could be seen wincing in pain at times with back pain and was stretching on the baseline during some timeouts.</p><p>Tobias Harris contributed 24 points, 15 rebounds and five assists while Danny Green had 12 points for the Sixers, who snapped their three-game losing streak. Tyrese Maxey had 10 off the bench for the 76ers.</p><p>Ben Simmons was a late scratch with a stomach illness while top reserve Shake Milton remained out with an ankle injury.</p><p>John Wall led the struggling Rockets with 26 of his 28 points in the second half while DeMarcus Cousins and Jae&#x27;Sean Tate each had 19. Eric Gordon scored 17 and Ben McLemore 11 for Houston, which has dropped seven in a row.</p><p>The short-handed Rockets played without a number of key injured players such as Victor Oladipo, Christian Wood and P.J. Tucker. But they received a lift with the return of Gordon from a groin strain.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M43fmcEhoyM?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Furkan Korkmaz converted a tough layup with 5:35 left in the second quarter to boost the Sixers&#x27; lead to 57-34.</p><p>Houston committed 13 turnovers in the first half and the Sixers capitalized by going ahead 69-43. Philadelphia made 11 treys in the first half. Wall struggled mightily, missing 5 of 6 shots with five turnovers by halftime.</p><p>When Embiid suck a short jumper nearly three minutes after the half, Philadelphia held a 29-point lead at 78-49.</p><p>The Rockets&#x27; frustration was evident late in the third quarter down by 20 when Wall was whistled for a technical foul.</p><p>Philadelphia, which had eight turnovers in the third, still held a 96-79 advantage at the end of the quarter.</p><p>After the Rockets quickly got within 14 early in the fourth, Dwight Howard and Maxey each hit a pair of free throws to move the Sixers back ahead 100-82.</p><p>Amazingly, the Sixers went through a stretch with 14 straight missed field goals.</p><p>When Wall drove to the basket and scored with 5:47 remaining, the Rockets trailed 104-93. Wall soon made consecutive 3-pointers and 1 of 2 free throws with 1:28 left to close within 110-106.</p><p>Embiid responded with a corner jumper to extend the lead to 112-106 as the Sixers held on down the stretch.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GwRNdm3SN9o?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The host Philadelphia 76ers nearly blew a 29-point, second-half lead to defeat the Houston Rockets 118-113 on Wednesday.<br /> </p>

The host Philadelphia 76ers nearly blew a 29-point, second-half lead to defeat the Houston Rockets 118-113 on Wednesday.