The Sixers will battle the Denver Nuggets twice in the regular season, which (hopefully) delivers two epic battles between perennial MVP candidates Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.
One is the reigning MVP who watched his team get bounced in the Eastern Conference Semifinals; the other is the best player on the defending NBA champions, with two previous MVP trophies to his name.
Embiid and Jokic are the best centers in the game, but something always seems to come up and prevent them from going head-to-head. The talented Cameroonian went gangbusters when the Sixers and Nuggets met in South Philly on January 28 last season: 47 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Jokic turned in a respectable stat line in that contest — 24 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds — as Philadelphia beat Denver 126-119.
However, Embiid chose to sit out the rematch when the series shifted to Denver on March 27. It was deemed a rest day (or load management) for the 7-footer who had balled out for 28 points and 10 boards two nights prior in Phoenix.
The Sixers had played 3 road games in 4 days heading into that one, so it wasn’t a surprise to see Embiid out of the lineup. However, it did rob fans of a marquee matchup — and some saw it as Embiid backing down from Jokic, possibly due to fears of exerting himself in the Mile High air.
Back to this year. The Sixers and Nuggets will square off twice: January 16 in Philadelphia and January 27 in Denver. Hopefully, Embiid and Jokic suit up for both contests which should be must-watch TV. Both games will be broadcast on national TV.