Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic formed one of the NBA’s greatest individual rivalries of the decade as each player battled for the Most Valuable Player award for years. Each time these centers clashed in the regular season, it was a statement. But, injuries single-handedly dulled what was once one of basketball’s most anticipated matchups.
The Philadelphia 76ers (19-14) will take on the Denver Nuggets (23-12) at 8:30 p.m. EST, exclusively on Peacock. In a game geared for primetime, Denver will be without Jokic (knee), Jamal Murray (knee), Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness), Cameron Johnson (knee), Jonas Valanciunas (calf), Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle). Down seven of their eight leading scorers, the Nuggets could be an easy victory for Philadelphia, but it must be careful nonetheless.
The 76ers have returned from a demanding road trip, during which they played five games in eight days, and may enter tonight’s matchup fatigued from it. Not to mention, Philadelphia is riding a three-game win streak and Denver’s lengthy injury report could lead to subconscious complacency. It must not give in to the circumstances and secure an early victory to ensure old-school load management for its top-end players.
While this contest offers hints of a trap game, the Nuggets’ depleted roster may be too grave to overcome despite their best effort. Denver’s injury influx has promoted Peyton Watson–who tallies 11.8 points per game–to its go-to scoring option. While the forward thrives alongside Jokic and Murray, his leading an improbable Nuggets win seems far-fetched.
Although Jokic–who has missed Denver’s last three games due to a left knee bone bruise–remains out for the next few weeks, it could’ve offered Philadelphia an interesting test otherwise. The Nuggets, after all, still hold the fourth seed in the Western Conference. But, after losing to the Brooklyn Nets 127-115 on Sunday evening, Denver seemingly pulled the plug by ruling out Murray, Hardaway, Gordon and Braun.
The last time that Embiid and Jokic squared up was on January 16th, 2024–when the 76ers won 126-121. A lot has changed since then, as each team’s supporting casts are different between Paul George’s arrival in Philadelphia in the summer of 2024 and the Nuggets’ acquiring Cam Johnson last offseason.
The biggest difference, however, is that right knee injuries have derailed Embiid from MVP conversations unlike the last time he and Jokic met. While the nine-time all-star is no longer eclipsing 35 points at will, his production has increased lately and battling Jokic could’ve served as a fun reminder of what was, but also a test to see if he can still stack up against the NBA’s finest.