By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 
I was so close to writing a recap about the Sixers (1-4) getting a much needed win over a tough Western Conference opponent, but instead the Sixers took a big lead, let the Rockets (4-1) come back, and Houston broke every Philadelphia sports fans' hearts with a buzzer-beating three from Eric Gordon to end it.
The Sixers, who played brilliantly on offense during the game, let a late lead slip away marred by poor defense.
However, the defense that the Sixers got during the contest stood out in parts, mostly due to lockdown play from T.J. McConnell, who by all accounts, played very similarly to the player we saw for the Sixers last season.
McConnell finished the game with six points, six steals, nine assists, and five boards in 28 key bench minutes.
.@sixers G @TJMcConnell's six steals tonight represent a new career-high. Prev. high was five on 2/15/17.
— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) October 26, 2017
Just watching McConnell play defensively, dishing the ball out offensively, and leading his bench teammates, reminded me the reason why the Sixers love this guy so much, and why he brings a completely different dimension to the lineup that you really can't get anywhere else.
Joel Embiid played 25 minutes, had 21 points and six rebounds, along with three assists, two blocks, and a steal. He only took two shots from deep, but drilled one of them that banked off the glass and in.
Ben Simmons didn't get his triple double tonight, but he still played an efficient game on the court. Simmons had 14 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Robert Covington was a straight shooter once again for the Sixers, putting up 20 points and had four makes from downtown for the Sixers.
.@sixers F @Holla_At_Rob33 has his second 20-point game through team's first five contests. Lone PHI player with more than one this season.
— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) October 26, 2017
J.J. Redick had a team-high 22 points, five boards, and four assists.
The Rockets, unsurprisingly, had giant nights from James Harden and Eric Gordon who put up 27 and 29 points respectively. Clint Capela was a monster on the glass with 20 rebounds to go along with his 16 points.
The Sixers led by one point over the Rockets heading into the fourth quarter and increasingly spaced out their lead, leading by as much as eight points with four minutes to play.
Unfortunately, lackluster defense and letting their guard down, allowed the solid Houston offense to score points down the stretch, take advantage of mistakes and muster out a victory.
And if it couldn't get any worse, Eric Gordon's buzzer-beating dagger was over a flailing Joel Embiid who went all in to try to break it up and block Gordon to seal the victory for the Sixers.
Eric Gordon over Joel Embiid. FOR THE WIN. #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/4HxrdBfctv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2017
The Sixers may have wanted to win this one in front of the home crowd, but they will seek revenge on the road in Houston in just five days time.
The Sixers next game is in Dallas on Saturday when they will take on former Sixer Nerlens Noel and the Mavericks.
