Joel Embiid scores 41, beats Nikola Jokic and leads Sixers' Nuggets

PHILADELPHIA — Ahead of Tuesday night's showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, 76ers coach Nick Nurse was asked about the head-to-head battle between the top two contenders in the past three MVP races: 76ers center Joel Embiid and Nuggets counterpart Nikola Jokic.

“The card tonight is more than just a big heavyweight bout,” Nurse said with a smile. “There's more going on.”

Maybe that was true. But the two star big men lived up to their billing above the marquee.

And it was Embiid who delivered the final blow in the end.

Embiid had 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 straight points in the fourth quarter that made the difference in the 126-121 win.

“I think we finally got some stops defensively,” Embiid said afterward. “We knew that, especially in the first half, after both teams gave up 78 points each, we knew that the first team to get some stops was going to have a good chance to win the game, and we were that team.”

Prior to his 41-point, 10-rebound performance on Monday against the Houston Rockets, Embiid had missed three straight games due to knee soreness and seven of Philadelphia's past nine games due to knee soreness and a sprained ankle. But he wasn't even listed on Tuesday's injury report against Denver.

Embiid's streak of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 16 games ended, tying him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the longest by anyone not named Wilt Chamberlain in NBA history, but that didn't diminish his dominance in this game — especially for the record. Closing.

Down by five early in the fourth quarter, the 76ers (26-13) were able to tie the score when Embiid and Jokic got back into the game with 7:28 left. Then, after Jokic and Tyrese Maxey exchanged baskets, Embiid put Philadelphia on a lead it wouldn't relinquish by scoring 10 straight points — dribbling past Jokic for a layup, getting a jumper and -1, hitting a 3-pointer and burying another jumper.

“This was a game that came down to it,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We came up short. Joel [Embiid] It's a hell of a talent.”

It was a fitting result for a very entertaining game, as both teams scored 78 points in the first half in a game in which defense, in large parts, seemed optional. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the 156 first-half points total was the most in a tied game in the shot clock era (since 1954).

But, more than anything else, the head-to-head matchup between two of the league's best players lived up to the hype. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Embiid became the first opposing center this season to have more points and assists than Jokic in a game. The only other person to do so in the past two seasons is Houston Rockets big man Alberin Singon on April 4, 2023.

“These are probably the best players of our generation,” Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said.

Despite their three straight battles for league MVP, Embiid and Jokic have consistently maintained high respect for each other. It was no different after Tuesday's game, as Jokic praised Embiid's performance this season, and Embiid said Jokic deserves to be considered an MVP after winning the NBA Finals MVP award last season.

“He's a really good player,” Jokic said. “He's playing historic right now. He's averaging 30 points every night, and that's very difficult, especially every night.

“But I mean, I'm not playing against him. I'm playing against Philadelphia. It was a good game.”

“Both of us, we're like, 'OK, we just want to play basketball and win some games, he deserves it,'” Embiid said. [the title of best player] Until you hit him [off]. He's the Finals MVP. Until someone else takes that, you can claim it.”

Then Embiid smiled.

“But again, I believe in myself too,” he added. “I'll keep it at that. I have to get there.”

This was the type of performance that gave the 76ers belief in their ability to compete with the league's elite teams. The 76ers are 23-6 when Embiid is in a uniform this season, and now have wins over both Boston and Denver on their resume.

Embiid, who was No. 1 in the first edition of ESPN's MVP poll last month, is in first place for the league's highest individual honor for the second straight season. But he knows he will be judged on whether the 76ers can finally crack the playoffs and advance past the second round.

“I don't think I care about what people decide who's better,” Embiid said. “I know I want to be the best, and I'll do everything I can to be the best. But sometimes you have to be able to win as a team. You have to do the best job you can to make sure of that. “You put yourself and the team in the best possible position to win. It seems that 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 that at the beginning of the season. You're going to keep talking about Boston and Milwaukee. That's good. Maybe they're better than us, maybe they're more talented than us, but I still think we have a chance. We just need a little bit of luck.”

“Like I always say, we have to be perfect. We have to be in sync. We have to play for each other. And it's worked out well this year.”