Player grades: Joel Embiid-less 76ers fall to Rockets in critical loss

The Philadelphia 76ers continued with their season on Thursday when they paid a visit to the Houston Rockets looking to get back in the win column. The Sixers received some tough news as they found out Joel Embiid had to undergo appendicitis surgery that will keep him out for some time. Without Embiid, the Sixers struggled as they were unable to find much of a groove all night in a 113-102 loss to the Rockets.

The Sixers deserve credit for a huge fourth quarter when it cut a 28-point deficit down to five, but it wasn't enough. The loss coupled with a win by the Toronto Raptors over the Miami Heat has the Sixers sitting two games back of Toronto and the Atlanta Hawks for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just two games left. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 23 points and five assists, VJ Edgecombe had 21 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, Quentin Grimes had 20 off the bench, and Kelly Oubre Jr.

had 16 points. Paul George finished with seven points and four rebounds. Here are the player grades following the loss: Tyrese Maxey: C-plus It was another slow start for Maxey as he was unable to get much going on the offensive end.

He had some good looks while using his aggressiveness to get into the paint, but he struggled to convert on those looks while also being a part of the team’s turnover problem with the Rockets being able to get out and run on a regular basis. Eventually, Maxey was able to find a rhythm with his 3-point shot as he was a guy the Sixers could consistently turn to after his slow start to lead this team on the offensive end. VJ Edgecombe: B-minus The rookie did his best to give the Sixers some offense.