PHILADELPHIA — A year ago, they finished 1-2 in the NBA’s MVP balloting. This season, it could happen again.
Defending league MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets went head to head with the 76ers’ Joel Embiid on Monday for the first time since Nov. 10, 2019. Embiid had missed the teams’ last four meetings due to injury and COVID-19 protocols. It was an entertaining matchup, to say the least.
The 41-26 Sixers dropped third in the Eastern Conference after falling 114-110 at the Wells Fargo Center, while the 41-28 Nuggets are sixth in the West despite not having second-best player Jamal Murray (torn ACL) all season.
Embiid is averaging more points than Jokic (29.8 to 26.1), as well as holding the edge in blocked shots (1.4 to .8), free throws attempted (a league-leading 12 to 5.9) and has a slightly better percentage on 3- pointers (.356 to .347). Jokic is averaging more rebounds (13.8 to 11.3), assists (8.1 to 4.4) and shooting a considerably better percentage from the field (.573 to .484).
It’s fair to say the numbers are relatively even. Not surprisingly, each has a high level of respect for the other.
“He’s an amazing player,” said Embiid of Jokic last week. “He’s a monster. What he’s able to do on a basketball floor is crazy. I’m happy that when you look at who’s dominating the league and who the best players are, they’re really all big men.”
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“He’s a great player — for real a great, great player that he can do everything on the floor and control the game,” said Jokic of Embiid the other day. “He’s in the conversation for MVP (as) the best player in the league. He’s so dominant. He has skill, but he’s so big and strong that he’s really a tough cover for every single team in the NBA. I like to play with the best.”
Embiid finished with 34 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, compared to Jokic’s 22 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists.
Things started quite well for Embiid and the Sixers. After Jokic blocked Embiid’s driving attempt the first time downcourt, Embiid got Jokic to bite on a pump-fake before driving in for a dunk. Jokic scored at the other end and then Embiid countered with a 3-pointer.
When Embiid knocked down another 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the first quarter, the Sixers’ lead grew to 13 (27-14) and the sellout crowd responded with chants of “MVP.”
The Sixers appeared to be the fresher team early despite their overtime road win over the Magic on Sunday while the Nuggets were off en route to a 19-point lead, only for Jokic to help Denver close the gap to five at halftime with Embiid on the bench due to three fouls. A 70-foot Jokic outlet pass for a layup and pretty Jokic bounce pass for another easy bucket keyed the Nuggets’ surges.
Even with Embiid back, Denver continued rolling and went ahead by two early in the third quarter, forcing Sixers coach Doc Rivers to call timeout. Embiid brought the Sixers back in a hurry, though.
Beforehand, Rivers said he doesn’t get wrapped up in individual matchups.
“We’re going to need Joel to be great tonight, as he’s been every night,” Rivers said. “I’m sure they’re going to want Jokic to be the same way. I don’t really get caught up in that as much as if I was coming to a game and watching it. It’s a little different for me.”
“I understand the excitement when you have two MVP candidates (and) rightfully so,” offered Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “We know about Nikola in Denver, but Joel is a hell of a player. But I don’t go to bed at night saying ‘I can’t wait for Nikola and Joel to go at it.’ I’m just trying to figure out how to help our group get back to winning.”
On Monday, Jokic and the Nuggets ended up with the victory. As for MVP, that still seems to be very much up in the air.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
www.buckscountycouriertimes.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism