Embiid makes point as Sixers extend streak to seven

PHILADELPHIA big man Joel Embiid out-duelled twotime NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic on Sunday, pouring in 47 points to lead the 76ers to a 126-119 victory over Denver Nuggets.

Embiid, runner-up to Jokic in MVP voting the past two seasons, also grabbed 18 rebounds to help the Sixers erase a 15-point halftime deficit on the way to a seventh straight victory.

After also missing out on selection as an All-Star Game starter, he insisted the clash was not about a personal rivalry with Jokic, but about the 76ers testing themselves against the Western Conference’s top team.

“It’s not a rivalry,” he told broadcaster ABC. “I love the big fella, man. Two-time MVP, one of the best players in the league. I’m a big fan.

“(We) just wanted to come out here (against) the best team in the West, see where we’re at.

“I think we’ve got a chance.” The 76ers improved to 32-16, two games behind the league-leading Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference.

At 34-16, the Nuggets are 2½ games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies atop the West.

Embiid was everywhere in the second half, his step-back jumper knotting the score at 110-110 with 5:48 remaining.

After his block on Jamal Murray, Embiid scored on the fast break to put the 76ers up for good, and he drained a step-back three-pointer over Jokic that pushed Philadelphia’s lead to 125-117 with 30.1 seconds to play.

James Harden added 17 points and 13 assists while Tobias Harris and Georges Niang added 14 points apiece for Philadelphia.

“There’s a reason we’ve won 20 out of the last 24 games,” Embiid said. “We’re just doing it as a team. They trust me, I trust them and we’re just making plays for each other.”

Jokic led the Nuggets with 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Jamal Murray added 22 points, but after building a lead Denver could not match Philadelphia’s energy in the third quarter and Embiid seized on the opening.