The Philadelphia 76ers won an important victory over the Houston Rockets by 128 to 122, in a match played on the night of Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tyrese Maxey was the main protagonist of the night, scoring 36 points, being decisive both at the end of regular time and in the extra period. The confrontation was marked by a crucial refereeing failure in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, when a block by Kevin Durant on Maxey was not reviewed.
The home team counted on gala performances from its main stars to interrupt the visitors’ streak of three consecutive victories. Joel Embiid recorded his first triple-double of the season with 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, while Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 26 points. Pelo alongside Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant led the scoring with 36 points, but unforced errors at the end of the game weighed against the Texan team.
Joel Embiid: 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Tyrese Maxey: 36 points and 10 assists.
Kevin Durant: 36 points and 7 rebounds.
Kelly Oubre Jr.: 26 points with 71% shooting.
Officiating controversy and the league report
The most controversial moment of the game occurred when there were just over 13 seconds left in regulation time. Tyrese Maxey infiltrated the defense and attempted a layup that would give the home team the lead, but Kevin Durant blocked the ball after it touched the scoreboard. The referees did not signal the goaltending infraction at the time and, as a rule, the play could not be reviewed later.
The head of the refereeing team, John Goble, explained in an official report that interference is only reviewable if it is called on the court. Como the judges considered the block to be clean in real time, the technology could not be activated to correct the error. The situation generated revolt on the bench of the Philadelphia 76ers, who had to seek victory in overtime after the 115-115 draw.
– Paul George triple
—Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers)January 23, 2026
– VJ board and bucket
– Rese finger roll
– PG stuff ➡️ Kelly lay
– Maxey slam 😤
overtime was electric‼️pic.twitter.com/R737KjgxXL
Technical mastery in the extra period
Overtime began with the Philadelphia 76ers imposing a strong pace to avoid further surprises. Paul George, who returned from injury, hit a crucial three-pointer to take the lead in the first few minutes. VJ Edgecombe also appeared well on offensive rebounding, securing extra possessions that were converted into crucial points.
The home team managed to neutralize Houston’s attempts to react through a more aggressive defense. Kevin Durant still tried to keep Rockets alive with medium-range shots, but the visiting team’s physical fatigue was evident. Efficient free throws in the final seconds sealed the home team’s triumph in front of their fans.
Individual performance and collective statistics
Tyrese Maxey demonstrated maturity by taking responsibility in the game’s most pressured moments. Ele scored 11 points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, leading the comeback from a six-point deficit. Além of the score, his ability to distribute the game resulted in 10 assists, creating spaces for his perimeter teammates.
Use of the Philadelphia court: 47.8%.
Total rebounds: Houston 49, Philadelphia 44.
Turnovers: Houston made 17 errors compared to 13 by Philadelphia.
Points in the bottle: Equilíbrio with an advantage for Sixers in extra time.
Despite the defeat, Houston Rockets showed why they are considered one of the most dangerous teams in Conferência Oeste this season. Amen Thompson had a solid performance with 17 points and 9 assists, commanding the offense in Fred VanVleet’s absence. Alperen Sengun also contributed 13 points, but suffered from the double marking imposed by Joel Embiid during most of the match.
Return from Paul George and rotation
The presence of Paul George on the court brought a new dynamic to coach Nick Nurse’s tactical scheme. Mesmo with a controlled minutes due to the management of an injury to his left knee, the winger was fundamental for the spacing of the court. Sua experience helped calm the team after refereeing errors that could have destabilized the group psychologically.
Upcoming team appointments
The Philadelphia 76ers are now looking to maintain consistency to climb the Conferência Leste table and improve their record at home. The team returns to play at the weekend, focusing on the physical recovery of its main athletes after the exhaustion of extra time. Já o Houston Rockets returns to Texas to try to start a new winning streak and consolidate their position in the playoffs.
The game in Filadélfia served as a reminder of the ongoing discussions about the use of technology in the NBA and the limits of review. Embora the error has been admitted indirectly, the court result remains unchanged for the official statistics. The focus of both franchises now turns to the defensive adjustments necessary for the final stretch of the regular season.
