The Houston Rockets, riding a three-game winning streak, face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night in a bid to complete a season sweep. Alperen Sengun has been dominant against Philadelphia, while Joel Embiid is expected to return for the home team after sitting out their last game.
The Houston Rockets (26-15) travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers (23-19) at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 22. Houston is coming off a 111-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, capping a 4-1 homestand and marking their third consecutive win overall. However, the Rockets have struggled on the road, dropping their last four away contests.
Historically, the 76ers have dominated the series, winning eight of the last nine meetings, but Houston turned the tide last season with a pair of overtime victories to sweep the matchup. Alperen Sengun has shone brightly against Philadelphia this season, posting 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 122-115 road win, followed by 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 144-137 home triumph. The 23-year-old center averages 21.5 points per game and ranks tied for sixth in the NBA with 20 double-doubles, including 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Spurs.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, fell 116-110 to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, going 1-3 on their six-game homestand. They rested Joel Embiid due to an ankle issue, but the 2023 NBA MVP is likely to play against Houston. VJ Edgecombe led the 76ers with 25 points in the loss, while Adem Bona contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. The 76ers have a 11-12 home record and have won just two of their last seven at Wells Fargo Center.
Betting odds list the Rockets as 2.5-point favorites. The SportsLine Projection Model simulates Houston winning 73% of the time, citing Philadelphia's recent home struggles. For player props, expert PropBetGuy recommends Embiid over 25.5 points, given Houston's challenges defending high-usage big men. However, the model projects Embiid under 8.5 rebounds, as the Rockets rank first in offensive rebound percentage (37.0%) and seventh in defensive (74.0%).
