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Unsurprisingly, the Jokic-led Nuggets outscored the Sixers by five points during Montrezl Harrell’s initial stint of approximately two and a half minutes. Sixers head coach Doc Rivers changed up Embiid’s normal rotations in the first half Saturday, subbing him out with six minutes left in the first quarter.

Jokic found Bruce Brown on a back-door cut for a layup late in the first, capitalizing on James Harden's inattentiveness. The Serbian big man dictates the game in a manner that feels leisurely, and he punishes lapses ruthlessly. He throws effortlessly deft and deceptive passes and makes every player he shares the court with a real threat. Jokic essentially plays water polo on a basketball court. Both are excellent mid-range shooters and skilled, savvy big men, but the two go about their business in distinct ways. The stylistic contrast is fascinating when Embiid and Jokic match up. Jokic then started to figure out Embiid’s timing a bit, stripping him of the ball twice as he rose for mid-range jumpers. drained his second of three first-quarter threes.

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Following two Embiid free throw misses, Michael Porter Jr. He’d entered the game at 86.1 percent on the season after shooting 20 for 20 over his last two games. Oddly, Embiid opened 0 for 3 from the foul line. Embiid posted the Sixers’ first six points and began 4 for 4 from the floor, which was a nice bounce back efficiency-wise after his 6-for-18 performance in Wednesday’s win over the Nets. He got Jokic to commit to his pump fake on the Sixers’ first possession before scoring an and-one hoop.

With the shot clocks above the baskets not functioning at Wells Fargo Center, the teams had to rely on a clock stationed at the corner of the baseline floor.Įmbiid was working just fine. One of the most noticeable aspects early in Saturday’s game was, in a literal sense, off the court. Here are observations on Embiid's spectacular day and the Sixers' win over Denver: Star big guys dialed in from the jump The Sixers will finish their four-game homestand with games against the Magic on Monday and Wednesday. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic had 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting, nine assists and eight rebounds for Denver, who fell to 34-16.

The team is 32-16 and has now won seven straight games.Įmbiid recorded 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. The MVP runner-up the last two seasons turned in an incredible performance at Wells Fargo Center to lift the Sixers to a 126-119 victory over the Nuggets. Joel Embiid was not second best in any way Saturday afternoon.

Sixers score.