Joel Embiid scores 41, outduels Nikola Jokic as Sixers prime Nuggets

PHILADELPHIA — Earlier than Tuesday evening’s showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, 76ers coach Nick Nurse was requested in regards to the head-to-head battle between the highest two finishers previously three MVP races: 76ers heart Joel Embiid and Nuggets counterpart Nikola Jokic.

“The cardboard tonight is extra than simply the massive heavyweight matchup,” Nurse stated with a smile. “There’s somewhat bit extra happening.”

That may have been true. However the two famous person massive males greater than lived as much as their billing atop the marquee.

And it was Embiid who finally landed the knockout blow.

Embiid completed with 41 factors, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, whereas Jokic had 24 factors, 19 rebounds — together with 11 offensive boards — and three assists. Nevertheless it was Embiid’s 10 consecutive factors within the fourth quarter that proved to be the distinction in a 126-121 victory.

“I believe we lastly obtained some stops defensively,” Embiid stated afterward. “We knew that, particularly at halftime, after each groups gave up 78 factors every, we simply knew that the primary group to get some stops had been going to have a great likelihood of profitable the sport, and we had been that group.”

Earlier than his 41-point, 10-rebound efficiency Monday towards the Houston Rockets, Embiid had missed three video games in a row as a result of knee soreness and 7 of Philadelphia’s previous 9 video games due to the sore knee and a sprained ankle. However he wasn’t even listed on the damage report Tuesday towards Denver.

Embiid’s streak of getting not less than 30 factors and 10 rebounds ended at 16 video games, tying him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the longest by anybody not named Wilt Chamberlain in NBA historical past, however that did not diminish his dominance on this one — notably within the closing minutes.

Down 5 to start out the fourth quarter, the 76ers (26-13) managed to tie the rating when Embiid and Jokic checked again into the sport with 7:28 to go. Then, after Jokic and Tyrese Maxey traded baskets, Embiid staked Philadelphia to a lead it would not relinquish by scoring 10 straight factors — Euro-stepping round Jokic for a layup, getting an and-1 jumper, hitting a 3-pointer and burying one other jumper.

“This was a recreation that went all the way down to the wire,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated. “We got here up quick. Joel [Embiid] is a hell of a expertise.”

It was a becoming conclusion to a wildly entertaining recreation, one which noticed each groups rating 78 factors within the first half in a recreation wherein protection was, for big parts, seemingly optionally available. In line with ESPN Stats & Info analysis, the mixed 156 first-half factors had been essentially the most in a tie recreation within the shot clock period (since 1954).

However, greater than something, the head-to-head matchup of two of the league’s finest gamers greater than lived as much as the hype. In line with ESPN Stats & Info analysis, Embiid grew to become the primary opposing heart this season to have extra factors and assists than Jokic in a recreation. The one different one to do it previously two seasons is Houston Rockets massive man Alperen Sengun on April 4, 2023.

“These are in all probability the 2 finest gamers of our technology,” Nuggets ahead Michael Porter Jr. stated.

Regardless of their three consecutive battles for league MVP, Embiid and Jokic have persistently held one another in excessive regard. That was no totally different after Tuesday’s recreation, with Jokic talking extremely of Embiid’s play this season and Embiid saying Jokic deserves to be thought-about the most effective participant after profitable NBA Finals MVP final season.

“He is a extremely good participant,” Jokic stated. “He is enjoying historic proper now. He is averaging 30-something factors each evening, and that is extraordinarily laborious to do, particularly each evening.

“However I imply, I am not enjoying towards him. I am enjoying towards Philadelphia. It was a great matchup.”

Stated Embiid: “Each of us, we’re similar to, ‘OK, we simply wish to play basketball and win some video games,’ He deserves [the title of best player] till you knock him [off]. He is the Finals MVP. Till another person takes that away, then you’ll be able to declare that.”

Then, Embiid smiled.

“However then once more, I additionally imagine in myself,” he stated. “I will maintain it at that. I simply obtained to get there.”

This was the type of efficiency that gave the 76ers perception that they’ll compete with the league’s elite groups. The 76ers are 23-6 when Embiid is in uniform this season, and now they’ve wins over each Boston and Denver on their résumé.

Embiid, who was in first place in final month’s first version of ESPN’s MVP straw ballot, is in pole place to assert the league’s prime particular person honor for a second straight season. However he is aware of that he’s going to be judged on whether or not the 76ers can lastly break by means of within the playoffs and advance previous the second spherical.

“I do not assume I care what folks resolve who’s the most effective,” Embiid stated. “I do know I wish to be the most effective, and I will do no matter it takes to be the most effective. However generally you bought to have the ability to win as a group. You bought to do the most effective job potential to just be sure you put your self and the group in the most effective place potential to win. And it looks like if you wish to be the most effective, you bought to win … you bought to discover a strategy to win. So, that is my objective.

“I stated it at first of the season. Y’all maintain speaking about Boston, Milwaukee. That is nice. They is likely to be higher than us, they is likely to be extra gifted than us, however I nonetheless imagine we have got an opportunity. We simply want somewhat little bit of luck.

“Like I all the time say, we obtained to be good. We obtained to be in sync collectively. We obtained to play with one another. And it has been working fairly nicely this yr.”