Embiid wins the colossus battle

Whenever the Philadelphia 76ers play against the Denver Nuggets, the NBA focuses on the battle between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. Today, these two great players faced each other again, being the last two MVPs and the top contenders for the American national award. The match was aired on national television, and it was a great day for basketball fans. The Sixers won with a score of 126-121, giving Embiid an extra push in the race to be the season’s best player.

The Cameroonian basketball player had another incredible game, scoring at least 30 points for the 18th consecutive game, which equals the sixth-best streak in history set by Elgin Baylor. He seemed highly motivated by the competition, as he played exceptionally well, finishing the game with 41 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. Nikola Jokic, his opponent, also played well, matching him almost point for point with 25 points and 19 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive.

The match was tied for most of the game, and both players returned to the court with a 111-111 scoreboard and 7:30 minutes remaining. Then, Embiid’s impact was felt, as he scored 8 points in a row, including a 2-1 steal from Jokic, which he celebrated effusively, followed by a triple that drove the Wells Fargo Center crazy. The Nuggets, who had played well throughout the game, struggled in the last quarter, scoring only 17 points. Even 3 free throws by Michael Porter Jr. after a foul by Embiid with 26 seconds remaining did not change the game’s outcome. The Sixers and their star center had no intention of letting go of their lead, and they won the game.

The first half of the game was undoubtedly the most entertaining of the season. Halftime was tied at 78, with both teams exhibiting a level of accuracy that almost looked impossible. Neither team managed to achieve a lead greater than 6. Joel Embiid had scored 23 points, and the Sixers had made 67% of their shots. Nikola Jokic had scored 15 points, and the Nuggets had made 58% of their shots. Between the two teams, they had made 53% of their three-point shots, which looked like a video game.

In the third quarter, the Sixers took a 99-92 lead with great success from the perimeter, including four three-pointers in the first few minutes. However, the rim closed on them, and the Nuggets scored 12 unanswered points, leaving the score in favor of the visitors at 99-104 as they entered the last quarter. With Embiid on the bench, it was up to Tyrese Maxey (who scored 25 points and had 9 assists) and Tobias Harris (who scored 24 points) to keep their team afloat until their leader returned. They managed to do so and left it to Embiid to finish the job. The Cameroonian did not disappoint.