Joel Embiid took the two-time reigning MVP to school on Saturday afternoon.
In a hyped matchup between two of the best bigs in the game, Embiid was clearly superior against Nikola Jokic in the Sixers’ comeback win over the Nuggets, dropping 47 points while shooting 58 percent from the field on 31 attempts, including finishing 4-for-7 from downtown.
The final 3-pointer? A stepback dagger to bury Denver in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
Embiid’s Herculean effort led many to declare Embiid the real MVP and the clear better player over Jokic, but on the court, Embiid was all compliments towards the Nuggets star, who finished with 24 points on an 8-for-12 day from the floor.
“It’s not a rivalry,” Embiid said. “I love the big fella.
“Two-time MVP, one of the best players in the league. He’s such a good player. I’m a big fan.”
Jokic likely wasn’t a fan of the dominance Embiid showed on Saturday, putting together one of his best performances of the season to help take town the top team in the Western Conference.
“We wanted to come out here against the best in the West and see where we’re at,” Embiid said. “I think we got a chance. We just gotta keep staying locked in.”