HOUSTON – One night after a tough loss, the Sixers experienced a completely different kind of heartbreak.
The Sixers gave up a layup to James Harden in the final seconds to let a small lead slip out of their hands in an 88-87 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
The loss dropped the Sixers to 0-9 on the season, while the Rockets improved to 8-1.
Turning point
Tony Wroten made a three-point shot with 51 seconds remaining to give the Sixers a three-point lead, 87-84.
With 35.5 seconds left, Michael Carter-Williams fouled Harden only to have matters made worse when Sixers head coach Brett Brown was whistled for a technical foul for arguing the call and kicking the ball.
Harden made 2 of 3 from the stripe to cut the Sixers’ lead to one.
NBA
On the next possession, Carter-Williams dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds. After a review confirmed the call, Harden quickly pushed the ball up the court and knifed through the lane for the go-ahead layup.
MCW had a chance to give the Sixers the win, but his jumper in the final seconds clanged off the front of the rim.
Follow the leader
Harden led all scorers with 35 points. He was 9 for 21 from the floor and 14 for 16 at the foul line.
Dwight Howard finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks.
Tony Wroten was one of three Sixers in double-figure scoring, leading the team with 19 points and eight assists.
Nerlens Noel finished with eight points, six rebounds and one blocked shot. Carter-Williams had 13 points on 4 of 12 shooting to go along with five rebounds and five assists.
Stat-egic
The Rockets average 13 made three-pointers per game and shoot 40.1 percent from behind the arc.
Somehow the Sixers’ leaky three-point defense was able to hold the Rockets to just 7 for 34 (20.6 percent) from three-point range on Friday night.
Take a bow
The Sixers’ entire team showed true professionalism against the Rockets. Less than 24 hours after an embarrassing 123-70 loss to the Mavericks, the Sixers showed up against the Rockets and put up a fight.
Instead of being down 44 points after two quarters, the Sixers were up nine after the first quarter and were tied at 47 at halftime.
What’s next?
The Sixers wrap up their three-game Texas trip in San Antonio on Monday.
The Spurs have beaten the Sixers on their home floor 10 consecutive times. The Sixers last won in San Antonio on Jan. 3, 2004. The Sixers were led in scoring in that game by Eric Snow and Derrick Coleman, who each scored 20 points.
Amazingly, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili played that day. More than a decade has passed and, barring an injury or a Gregg Popovich rest day, all three will play against the Sixers.