Philadelphia – – Joel Embiid 47 points and 18 rebounds won the MVP candidate competition. Philadelphia 76ers They won 126-119, extending their winning streak to seven games. Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets Saturday.
Jokic and Embiid have finished first and second in NBA Most Valuable Player voting over the past two seasons. Embiid was named Eastern’s All-Star starter, but he’s one of the MVP frontrunners as this season reaches the halfway point.
“I’m used to it, it’s not the first time,” said Embiid. ”
Jokic nodded at Embiid’s play.
“He’s really talented,” Jokic told Embiid’s Denver Post. “Really sneaky.”
James Harden Recorded 17 points and 13 assists. Tobias Harris After being shut down by Denver’s defense in the first half, he scored all 14 points in the second half.
“We were able to figure out some things and get some stops,” Harris said. It’s been huge for us as we try to cut our deficit and make something happen.”
Jokic has 24 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists for Denver, who have lost three of their last four games. Jamal Murray was deducted 22 points and Michael Porter added 20 points.
“We turned it over and they put pressure on us,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. became too careless in basketball.”
Embiid has scored 40 or more points nine times this season, 35 times in his career. In addition to the All-Star snub, Embiid was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Friday for an on-court demonstration celebration after a basket in Wednesday night’s game against Brooklyn.
Philadelphia manager Doc Rivers sarcastically said, “Let’s just fine Joel and keep him out of the All-Star starters and keep pissing him off.
The Nuggets started the day with the second-best team field goal percentage at 50.7% and topped the 3-point percentage with 39.5%. In the first half, they overwhelmed his defense on the Philadelphia perimeter, with him shooting 65.9% (44-29) from the floor and 10-of-17 (58.8%) beyond the three-point line. A hot shot gave the Nuggets a 73-58 lead at halftime.
Embiid began to take the lead towards the end of the third quarter, scoring 16 on a 5-of-6 shooting that keyed a 14-0 run that allowed the Sixers to close within 99-98 early in the fourth quarter. I’ve put together a quarter of points.
In the final quarter, Philadelphia plagued the Nuggets team in the final of three games over the course of the week. PJ Tucker forced Jokic to switch defensively in the second half to slow him down, but with over a minute left, Harden chipped in after a missed 3-pointer to extend the lead to five. Embiid then hit his 3-pointer to regain the 8-point lead.
“I always wanted to think I was the closer,” Embiid said. I love having the types of possessions that have to be played, it’s a place where you know who’s who and who’s configured for those moments.”
tip in
Nuggets: Jamal Murray started after being listed as a suspect with a left hip sprain. Murray missed Wednesday night’s game in Milwaukee. Murray tried to stretch in the third and fourth quarters, but he scored 22 points.
76ers: For the second game in a row, Embiid started after being listed as a game-time decision with a sore left foot. was absent from the match. .. Philadelphia had a technical foul on him in the 3rd quarter as he only had 4 players on the floor.
next
The Nuggets: Start a three-game homestand against New Orleans on Tuesday.
The 76ers: Play the first of back-to-back home games against Orlando on Monday.
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