On Tuesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will take their first glimpse at the Denver Nuggets. The matchup between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic is always entertaining to watch, but the bigger picture is that two of the NBA’s top players are going head to head.
The 76ers will face the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back, an indefensibly terrible decision by the league for the season’s opening showdown between two superstars who have contended for MVP for the past three years. However, the show must go on. After the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Houston Rockets on Monday afternoon, Embiid once again heaped accolades on his adversary.
“They just won a championship, thus they deserve to keep the title. The best player in the NBA is Nikola — I always say he’s fantastic to watch and even more enjoyable to play against,” the 76ers big man stated. “It’s wonderful to see other bigs dominate the game as he has, as well as some of the other players. A fun matchup. We are delighted about it.”
The 76ers have improved this season in part by following the Nuggets’ lead and using more mobility around Embiid to harness his playmaking potential. Embiid’s 5.9 assists per game pale in comparison to Jokic’s 9.3, but they remain a career high, demonstrating his progress. He scores more than the Nuggets’ superstar (34.9 points per game versus 25.5) despite having stronger defensive ability and lower scoring efficiency, though that margin is shrinking.
While the Jokic vs. Embiid argument rages on, Embiid is focused on the greater picture: two great teams, not just players, facing battle.
“The essential issue is that I don’t want everyone to get caught up in our matchup. This is Denver and Philadelphia competing for a win. They will be difficult to guard, as the league’s greatest squad and player. So, we have to do our best to win.
“It’s fun. “I enjoy the competition,” Embiid said of the clash. “Who doesn’t want to play against the best?”
Embiid and Jokic have long been portrayed as rivals, yet their relationship does not reflect this. Over the years, the superstar titans have lavished each other with admiration. When asked about his top five opponents in the league, Jokic listed Embiid first.
The 76ers and Nuggets are the biggest storyline for Embiid in this matchup. Philadelphia is aiming to emulate Denver’s success from last year. There is no better indicator of a team’s title hopes than a game against the defending champions.
“It’s fun to play against the best,” he told me. “You kind of measure yourself and see where you stand with those folks. As previously said, the matchup between two teams is also lost in the mix. I’m not actually comparing myself to those guys. I’m assessing my team’s current situation. Can we compete with the Denvers, Bostons, and Milwaukees, teams that are expected to win championships, like where we are? So, tomorrow is another day to evaluate who we are and determine if you have a chance.”
The 76ers also face stiff competition from the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Philly is 1-2 against Boston this season (with one loss coming while Embiid and Maxey sat), and they have dropped their only game against Milwaukee. Unfortunately for both teams, the game tonight is fraught with injury concerns.
Denver may not be at full strength for this game, with all five starters classified as questionable on the injury report, and vital reserve Julian Strawther ruled out. De’Anthony Melton is out for Philadelphia, and the status of Embiid, who recently suffered from knee swelling, has not to be established. After yesterday’s game, Nick Nurse confirmed that Embiid is expected to play.