The NBA has transitioned to more of a perimeter-orientated game in recent years. Teams are going smaller, playing positionless basketball. However, there are still advantages to having a traditional center. The Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets are two examples of that with Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.
Both big men had memorable performances on Wednesday night to lead their team to victory. Embiid scored 50 points in just over 27 minutes played against the Orlando Magic, helping Philadelphia erase a 10-point halftime lead to win in blowout fashion, 123-110.
Embiid played only 58 seconds in the fourth quarter, as his teammates stepped up in the second half to help get the win. Embiid credited his teammates for finding him and getting him the ball, and he took care of the rest.
The Orlando Magic had no answers for Embiid, who was locked in the entire night.
“It’s all about playing the right way. The ball is always going to find me,” Embiid said, reiterating his previous comments. “These guys have a hell of a lot of trust in me, and they’re always looking for me.
“And it doesn’t matter when. In any time of the game, the ball is going to find me.”
Across the country, in Denver a few hours later, Jokic had a dominant performance himself. While he didn’t reach the 50-point plateau, he got as close as possible, scoring 49 points on the LA Clippers.
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In addition to the huge scoring night, Jokic pulled down 14 rebounds and handed out 10 assists for his 10th triple-double of the season. The final assist was a big one, as it led to Aaron Gordon knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer.
It was another masterful performance by Jokic, who has provided eye-popping numbers throughout the season. His statistics are better in some areas this season compared to last season when he took home the MVP award.
At this stage, it is hard to say who may have a leg up between the two dominant big men. Embiid and Jokic are both extremely important to their team’s success.
We have seen how much their respective teams struggle when they are not on the court. The Philadelphia 76ers went into a tailspin when Embiid was placed in health and safety protocols, while the Denver Nuggets are one of the worst teams ever with Jokic off the court.
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But, at this moment right now, Embiid could be a nose ahead of Jokic. Given all of the circumstances surrounding the organization, such as the Ben Simmons trade rumors, Embiid has stepped up for his team in more ways than one.
This is a race that will go right down to the wire. Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic will be in the running right to the end as both are having excellent seasons that deserve some recognition.
