In a game that lacked its anticipated star power, the Denver Nuggets narrowly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers with a score of 111-105 during Saturday’s NBA action. The matchup was missing its highlight duel as Joel Embiid, a top MVP contender, was absent due to a knee issue, disappointing fans eager for his face-off with Nikola Jokic.
Jokic, delivering a strong performance with 26 points and 16 rebounds, led the Nuggets. Embiid’s absence marked the fourth consecutive year he missed the Sixers’ game in Denver, a decision made minutes before the game as he struggled through warmups with a left knee problem.
76ers coach Nick Nurse regretted Embiid’s absence, acknowledging his desire to play but emphasizing the medical team’s decision against it.
“He really wanted to play, and the medical team did not deem him fit to play today,” Nurse said. “That’s too bad for those fans. That’s too bad.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed frustration at the last-minute notice, hinting at a potential league investigation into such late scratches.
“We found out very late, and again, I don’t know how you go from being active/available to out,” Malone said. “And I’m sure the league will do their due diligence because that’s frowned upon. We’ve had situations this year where we’ve talked to the league, and they told us if a player goes from being active to out, there’s going to be an investigation.”
Embiid had injured his knee in a previous game against the Pacers but wasn’t listed as injured for Saturday’s game. Malone acknowledged Embiid’s injury but noted the challenges it posed for Denver’s game preparation.
“I’m sure he is hurt,” Malone said. “But it’s just really tough on the (opponent) preparing for them and then all of a sudden, last minute, he’s out. But, we have to do a better job of handling those situations.”
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The Sixers were already without Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Mo Bamba due to various reasons, which meant missing a significant chunk of their scoring potential. Despite this and the Nuggets’ fatigue from a recent extensive East Coast tour, the game remained close until the final minutes.
Jamal Murray scored 23 points for Denver, and Michael Porter Jr. contributed 20. Philadelphia’s Paul Reed stepped up with a career-high 30 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25.
Jokic didn’t dwell on Embiid’s absence, instead praising Reed’s performance and acknowledging Embiid’s impressive season, describing it as “history in the making.”
“He’s putting history right now in front of our eyes, and he’s making it look so easy,” Jokic said.
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Embiid, averaging 36 points and 11.4 rebounds this season, has been labeled “really unguardable” by Malone. However, his frequent unavailability, especially in Denver, remains a talking point. He has missed 11 games this season, and under the NBA’s new rules, he can only miss six more to stay in contention for league awards, including MVP.
The rivalry between Embiid and Jokic has been a highlight over the past few seasons, with each player being a runner-up for MVP when the other won. Their last direct matchup saw Embiid leading the Sixers to victory with a standout performance.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The absence of Embiid was felt by fans at the Ball Arena, with chants of “Where’s Embiid?” echoing as the Nuggets built an early lead. Malone highlighted the game’s difficulty, contrary to expectations of an easy win due to Embiid’s absence.
“I think everybody was like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is going to be a cakewalk today,’” Malone said. “Well, it wasn’t a cakewalk. This was a tough, tough win.”
Looking ahead, the 76ers are set to face the Portland Trail Blazers, while the Nuggets will host the Milwaukee Bucks under Doc Rivers’ new coaching. Both games are scheduled for Monday night.
