HOUSTON _ Nothing changed.
The 76ers continued to do what they've been doing since Christmas Day: lose on the road. This time, it was a 118-108 setback to the Houston Rockets.
The Sixers (23-14) have now lost four consecutive games, all on the road, after their thrilling holiday victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at home. This is the Sixers' first four-game losing streak since December 2017. The loss also dropped their road record to 7-12.
After a meeting and productive practice Thursday, coach Brett Brown had hoped to buck the trend. He also wanted to a see a "maniacal competitiveness."
He wanted to see a spirit fueled by effort and a recognition that 46 games remained in the season.
"So we can't get too irrational," Brown said Friday morning.
But this was the first game since shooting guard Josh Richardson said the locker room lacked accountability. The team met Thursday to discuss his comments, and it may become more accountable.
The Sixers wanted to see some improvement in that category Friday, realizing not everything would be fixed overnight.
While they kept trying to battle back, the Sixers displayed terrible body language. Their defensive effort was as on par with the body language. At times, they looked more like a group of individuals than a team.
Ben Simmons kept his competitive spirit, finishing with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists to go with a career-high-tying four blocks. It marked his 25th triple-double in 195 career games, making him the third-fastest player to reach the mark, behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.
Tobias Harris added 24 points and Joel Embiid finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Rockets (24-11) weren't exactly a good matchup for a team in desperate need of a pick-me-up win.
A lot of that had to do with Houston's backcourt tandem of James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Harden, the 2018 league MVP, went into the game shooting 50% or better in a career-best six straight games, averaging 38.8 points in them. Westbrook, the 2017 MVP, went in scoring 20-plus points in 11 straight games, averaging 28.5.
It was business as usual for both of them.
Harden finished with 44 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists to record a triple-double. Center Clint Capela had 30 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and a block, while Westbrook added 20 points.
"If you look at James Harden in an isolation environment, he may be the greatest scorer in the history of our game," Brown said. "I mean that. If you just go on math and metrics, it's just ... him and a defender. It's ridiculous what he does."
Westbrook is arguably the league's most aggressive point guard. He's always looking to attack.
Richardson and Simmons both took turns guarding Westbrook. The seven-time All-Star still nearly came close to finishing in double-digits in the first quarter.
He had nine points on 3-of-8 shooting while playing all 12 minutes of the quarter. However, the Sixers led, 27-20, thanks to a balanced attack and poor shooting by the Rockets.
Simmons paced the Sixers with seven points, six rebounds, two assists and a block.
The Rockets turned things around in the second quarter, scoring 40 points on 13-for-19 shooting (68.4%). They made 3 of 7 3-pointers (42.8%). Harden led the way, scoring 14 points in the quarter to have 23 points at the half.
Capela scored 15 of his points in the first half. With those two leading the way, the Rockets built a 60-53 halftime lead.
The Sixers pulled to within two points, 62-60, early in the third quarter. But the Rockets went on to lead by as many 18 points before taking a 96-86 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Sixers were without another one of their key reserves.
James Ennis III missed the matchup against his former team because of a stomach illness. This comes one day after the reserve swingman was held out of practice. He did not travel with the team to Texas.
The Sixers were also without reserve shooting guard Matisse Thybulle, who missed his sixth straight game with a right-knee sprain and bone bruise.
