Tim Bontemps, ESPN January 17, 2024, 1:15 a.m. ET
PHILADELPHIA – Ahead of Tuesday night's showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and defending champion Denver Nuggets, 76ers coach Nick Nurse was asked about the head-to-head matchup between the top two finishers in the last three MVP races: 76ers center Joel Embiid and Nuggets counterpart Nikola Jokic.
“Tonight’s card is more than just the big heavyweight fight,” Nurse said with a smile. “There’s still a little something going on.”
That could have been true. But the two big superstars more than lived up to their claim to the marquee.
And it was Embiid who ultimately landed the knockout blow.
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Embiid finished the game with 41 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, while Jokic had 24 points, 19 rebounds – including 11 offensive boards – and 3 assists. But it was Embiid's 10 consecutive points in the fourth quarter that made the difference in a 126-121 win.
“I think we finally got some stops defensively,” Embiid said afterward. “We knew that especially at halftime after both teams had given up 78 points each, we knew that the first team to get some stops had a good chance of winning the game and we were that team.”
Before his 41-point, 10-rebound performance on Monday against the Houston Rockets, Embiid had missed three straight games because of knee soreness and seven of Philadelphia's last nine games because of knee soreness and an ankle sprain. But he wasn't even listed on the injury report Tuesday against Denver.
Embiid's streak of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds ended after 16 games, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the longest in NBA history by anyone not named Wilt Chamberlain, but that didn't dent his dominance in this game – especially not in the final minutes.
Going into the fourth quarter, the 76ers (26-13) trailed by five but managed to tie the score when Embiid and Jokic got back into the game with 7:28 left. Then, after Jokic and Tyrese Maxey traded baskets, Embiid gave Philadelphia a lead it wouldn't relinquish by scoring 10 straight points – getting around Jokic for a layup, getting an and-1 jumper, one 3-point shot hit and…buried another jumper.
“It was a game that went down to the wire,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We fell short. Joel [Embiid] is an amazing talent.”
It was a fitting end to a highly entertaining game that saw both teams score 78 points in the first half in a game where defense seemed optional for much of the game. According to a study by ESPN Stats & Information, the combined 156 points in the first half were the most in a tie game in the shot clock era (since 1954).
Above all, the direct duel between two of the best players in the league more than lived up to the hype. According to a study by ESPN Stats & Information, Embiid became the first opposing center this season to score more points and assists in a game than Jokic. The only other person to do so in the last two seasons is Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun on April 4, 2023.
“Those are probably the two best players of our generation,” Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said.
Despite their three consecutive battles for league MVP, Embiid and Jokic always hold each other in high regard. It was no different after Tuesday's game: Jokic praised Embiid's play this season and Embiid said Jokic deserves to be considered the best player after winning the NBA Finals MVP last season.
“He’s a really good player,” Jokic said. “He’s playing historically at the moment. He averages about 30 points every night, and that’s extremely difficult, especially every night.”
“But I mean, I’m not playing against him. I'm playing against Philadelphia. It was a good game.”
Embiid said: “We both just say, 'Okay, we just want to play basketball and win some games,' he deserves that.” [the title of best player] until you hit him [off]. He is the MVP of the Finals. Until someone else takes that away, you can claim that.”
Then Embiid smiled.
“But on the other hand, I also believe in myself,” he said. “I'll leave it at that. I just have to do it.”
That kind of performance gave the 76ers the belief that they could compete with the league's elite teams. When Embiid wears the jersey this season, the 76ers are 23-6 and now include wins over Boston and Denver.
Embiid, who was ranked No. 1 in the first edition of ESPN's MVP straw poll last month, is in pole position to secure the league's top individual honor for the second straight year. But he knows he will be judged on whether the 76ers can finally break through the playoffs and advance past the second round.
“I don’t think I care what people decide about who is the best,” Embiid said. “I know that I want to be the best and I will do whatever it takes to be the best. But sometimes you have to be able to win as a team. You have to do the best job possible to ensure that.” You put yourself and the team in the best possible position to win. And it seems like if you want to be the best, you have to win… you have to find a way to win. So that's my goal.
“I said it at the beginning of the season. You all keep talking about Boston and Milwaukee. That's fine. They might be better than us, they might be more talented than us, but I still think we have a chance. “We just need a little bit of luck.
“As I always say: we have to be perfect. We have to be in sync. We have to play with each other. And this year it worked pretty well.”