In a game that many expected the Sixers to be simply blown out in, Philadelphia dominated throughout stretches and nearly walked away with a win.

Jared Butler (21 points, five assists) then stopped Smith in isolation and swished a three seconds later to restore a double-digit Sixers lead. Butler’s done sharp and shifty work of late when opposing defenses have focused on Grimes, posting 40 points over the first two games of the Sixers’ road trip.

On Monday night in Houston, a makeshift collection of Sixers brought everything it had against a very good Rockets team in the midst of a surge in the standings. They dominated for the first 28 minutes or so,