Quentin Grimes drops career-high 46 but Sixers fall to Rockets in OT

Quentin Grimes continued his ridiculous run as a Sixer with a new career-high 46 points, but it wasn’t enough as the team fought hard before falling in overtime.

A record-setting first half while not messing up the lottery standing, all in a day’s work.

Despite a season-high 24 threes, The Sixers blew a 25-point second half as they fell to the Houston Rockets 137-144 Monday night in overtime. They are now 23-45.

Grimes once again led all scorers with a career-high 46 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 15-of-27 from the field. It’s his second game as a Sixer to reach 40 and fifth with at least 30.

Jared Butler went for 21 points and five assists. Justin Edwards had 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green led the Rockets with 30 apiece.

With Guerschon Yabusele and Adem Bona out, the number of injured Sixers unable to suit up grew to 11, including those who are done for the rest of the season. Houston was without Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.

Here are some grades at the buzzer.

Quentin Grimes

His teammates might have gone unconscious regardless, but once again a hot start from Grimes led the charge for the Sixers’ offense. Houston’s defense was also so laid back to start the game that he was able to rebound his own missed three and lay it back in.

What made him stand out was the fact that he was still able to get his when the Rockets were coming back. They held the Sixers to 24 points in the third quarter but he was still able to get himself open off the dribble.

Not only is he producing that much scoring, but he’s making big plays to put games away on both ends of the floor. He really only made one mistake, it just happened at the worst possible time. Up three, he just didn’t see Jalen Green who was able to steal the cross-court pass. Houston tied the game up on the following possession.

Just when it looked like the Sixers had ran out of gas, he had one more heater left in him that drug them back. That effort fell just short though, putting any fans who are still tuning in pretty happy.

Grade: A-

Oshae Brissett

The 6-foot-7 Brissett was the starting and primary center for most of the evening, and he validated that decision early. He had a larger impact on the glass than his five first-half rebounds would indicate. Matched up with Alperen Sengun he was able to beat him off the dribble quite a bit to get to the basket. He got out to a 4-of-6 start for 10 points.

He did some other center things as well, blocking a couple shots at the rim and a big three-pointer down the stretch. He took quite a hard foul for his troubles when he tried to run out and finish the fast break, though the play was upgraded to a flagrant two on Fred VanVleet.

Much like the matchup in Philadelphia back in November, the lack of height just had no answers for Sengun once the game had reached overtime. Still, it was a commendable effort.

Grade: B+

Justin Edwards

Playing a huge part in the hot start, Edwards really showed that aggression that this type of environment would allow. Not only was his outside shot falling — he made the second most threes on the team — but attacked the basket as well.

The two standout plays were when he was able to change course and throw a kick-out to Grimes in the corner, and a big dunk over Jabari Smith Jr.

Grade: B

Jalen Hood-Schifino

Just like the day before, he was ready to fire up shots as soon as he checked into the game. He made two of his first four threes before starting to get going in the midrange. His methodical pace combined with his high-arching jumpshot makes his game look a lot like Jeff Dowtin Jr. As it would happen, they were able to get under the skin of Tari Eason and Dillon Brooks, respectively.

Hood-Schifino took a shove that ended up giving the Sixers a technical free throw. Eason got T’d up as well when he fouled out in the fourth. He wasn’t really involved much in the second half, but he had an open jumper to win the game at the end of the fourth but just couldn’t get it to go.

Grade: B-

Jared Butler

Everyone gets credit for the good ball movement early — 13 of their 16 field goals in the first quarter were assisted. Butler showed himself as a table-setter with four of those. He didn’t get in the three-point party in the second half, but like Grimes he was able to create looks in the second half when that was harder to come by. The 21 points he finished with were his Sixers’ high.

Grade: B+

Up next for the Sixers is another top team in the West as they’re set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET.