Embiid erupts for 47 in MVP showdown
Joel Embiid won the battle of MVP candidates with 47 points and 18 rebounds, and the 76ers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 126-119 victory Saturday against Nikola Jokic and the visiting Nuggets.
Jokic and Embiid — who had his ninth game of at least 40 points this season — have finished first and second, respectively, in voting for the MVP award in the last two seasons, and both are among the top candidates a little more than halfway through this season, too.
Jokic had 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Nuggets, who have lost three of their last four games.
Center Myles Turner agreed to a two-year, $60 million contract extension with the Pacers that runs through 2024-25 and includes an additional $17.1 million renegotiation on his salary this season, his agent said. Turner, 26, is averaging 17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks this season.
Hamlin conveys thanks in video
Bills safety Damar Hamlin released a 5½-minute video on his Instagram account in which he said he’s thankful for the outpouring of support and vows to pay it back. It was the first time Hamlin had spoken publicly since he went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field during a game Jan. 2 against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
‘‘It’s just been a lot to process,’’ he said. ‘‘But I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of all the love, all the support and everything that’s just been coming my way.’’
GOLF
Homa wins in San Diego
Max Homa closed with a 6-under-par 66 to earn a twostroke victory over Keegan Bradley in the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Homa completed 72 holes at 13-under 275.
Jon Rahm, who entered the round two strokes off the lead, never got untracked and shot a 2-over 74 to finish five strokes back at 280. He was trying to win for the third time in as many starts in 2023.
MISCELLANEOUS Wolves win in overtime
Max Lajoie scored at 4:09 of overtime to boost the Wolves (15-20-3-1) to a 3-2 victory against the IceHogs in AHL play at Allstate Arena.
The U.S. men’s national team played to a 0-0 draw against Colombia in an international friendly in Carson, California.