Joel Embiid pours in 47 points and 18 rebounds to give the Philadelphia 76ers the win over the Nuggets Saturday afternoon during NBA Rivals week.
Joel put up a signature performance against the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic, out dueling the two time reigning MVP by putting up a major stat line and leading this team to a comeback victory after being down as much as 15 points.
Joel is coming into this game after not being named an all star starter being bested by, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum for the three starting front court spots in the east. This game is also a matchup between the MVP of the last two seasons and the runner up for the MVP in those years as well. "I'm used to it," it's not the first time. I think it's more of a motivation to go out and win the whole thing. That's the only way I'm probably going to get that respect" said Embiid after the win.
This was clearly a statement game for him feeling as if he should have been an all star starter and won MVP in those last two seasons. He started the game red hot on scoring 14 points in the first quarter. He didn't stop pouring in on as he scored all over the floor with mid-range jump shots and face up post work. He got hot from the three point line late in the game hitting two clutch three pointers as the sixers closed in and put away the game to secure the win.
The sixers are now on a seven game win streak after defeating the number one seed in the west and have won 20 of their last 24 games and still just two and a half games back on the number one seed.
This will be a statement game for Joel Embiid's MVP case going forward as we have seen in years past statement games matter, showing up in the biggest moments of the regular season can sway voters opinions when it comes time to crown the MVP