Game ID: 22300644
Philadelphia 76ers @ Denver Nuggets
Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 5:30 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 31 33 22 25 111PHI 27 35 26 17 105
DEN vs PHI ScoutingDEN vs PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 6 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 7 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 8 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/21, returns tonight: 12 min (82% of 15)
OUT Strawther missed 9 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 10 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 11 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 11 min (78% of 15)
OUT Strawther missed 12 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 13 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (80% of 15)
DEN availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 14 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (79% of 15)
PHI availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Melton missed 2 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 7 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 2 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Springer missed 2 since 1/15, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/15 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK House Jr. back 1/12 after 2, 16 min since (108% of 15)
NEW Beverley 20 to 26 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/20 · back-to-backOUT Melton missed 3 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 8 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 3 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Springer missed 3 since 1/15, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/15 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK House Jr. back 1/12 after 2, 15 min since (97% of 15)
NEW Beverley 20 to 25 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Melton missed 4 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 9 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 4 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Springer missed 4 since 1/15, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/15 after 3, 34 min since (99% of 35)
BACK House Jr. back 1/12 after 2, 18 min since (118% of 15)
NEW Beverley 20 to 28 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Melton missed 5 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Beverley missed 2 since 1/20, returns tonight: 19 min (97% of 20)
OUT Covington missed 10 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 5 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Springer missed 5 since 1/15, returns tonight: 15 min (125% of 12)
BACK Embiid back 1/15 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
PHI availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Melton missed 6 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Morris Sr. missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 33 min (192% of 17)
OUT Covington missed 11 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 6 since 1/15, out tonight
BACK Beverley back 1/25 after 2, 19 min since (97% of 20)
BACK Springer back 1/25 after 5, 15 min since (125% of 12)
NEW House Jr. 15 to 20 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 20 min (60% of 34)
OUT Melton missed 7 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 12 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 7 since 1/15, returns tonight: 19 min (144% of 13)
BACK Beverley back 1/25 after 2, 28 min since (142% of 20)
BACK Morris Sr. back 1/27 after 2, 33 min since (192% of 17)
BACK Springer back 1/25 after 5, 11 min since (92% of 12)
NEW House Jr. 15 to 22 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Maxey missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Embiid missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 30 min (86% of 35)
OUT Melton missed 8 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 13 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 1/29 after 2, 20 min since (60% of 34)
BACK Beverley back 1/25 after 2, 29 min since (146% of 20)
BACK Morris Sr. back 1/27 after 2, 27 min since (159% of 17)
BACK Bamba back 1/29 after 7, 19 min since (144% of 13)
BACK Springer back 1/25 after 5, 10 min since (84% of 12)
NEW House Jr. 15 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Martin 12 to 21 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Maxey missed 3 since 1/27, returns tonight: 41 min (108% of 38)
OUT Melton missed 9 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 14 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/30 after 2, 30 min since (86% of 35)
BACK Harris back 1/29 after 2, 29 min since (86% of 34)
BACK Beverley back 1/25 after 2, 28 min since (145% of 20)
BACK Morris Sr. back 1/27 after 2, 27 min since (159% of 17)
BACK Bamba back 1/29 after 7, 19 min since (144% of 13)
BACK Springer back 1/25 after 5, 13 min since (107% of 12)
NEW House Jr. 15 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Martin 12 to 22 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Melton missed 10 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Batum missed 2 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris Sr. missed 2 since 1/30, returns tonight: 19 min (112% of 17)
OUT Covington missed 15 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 2/01 after 3, 41 min since (108% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 1/30 after 2, 30 min since (86% of 35)
BACK Harris back 1/29 after 2, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Beverley back 1/25 after 2, 26 min since (135% of 20)
BACK Bamba back 1/29 after 7, 18 min since (141% of 13)
BACK Springer back 1/25 after 5, 14 min since (118% of 12)
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW House Jr. 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Martin 12 to 20 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 34 free throws a game; Embiid at 42 and Maxey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Melton (6 straight), Morris Sr. (2 straight), Covington (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 34 free throws a game to Denver's 19. Call it Denver 115, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/19 @ BOS 102-100 — DEN notes
DEN won 102-100. DEN shot 52% (42 of 81) to BOS's 43%, 8 of 31 from three. DEN turned it over 9 times to BOS's 2. Murray led with 35 (15 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Jokić added 34, Porter Jr. 13. The hinge was Q3, 26-21: the deficit went from 6 to 1. DEN trailed 55-61 at the half and won the second half 47-39. Jackson was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
1/21 @ WAS 113-104 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-104. DEN shot 49% (43 of 88) to WAS's 43%, 8 of 22 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 22 — 19 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 50-40 for them. Jokić led with 42 (15 of 20, 12 of 14 at the line); Murray added 19, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/23 @ IND 114-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 114-109. DEN shot 50% (44 of 88) to IND's 49%, 11 of 33 from three. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Murray added 31, Caldwell-Pope 14. The hinge was Q3, 39-19: DEN came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 12. DEN trailed 54-62 at the half and won the second half 60-47. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/25 @ NYK 84-122 — DEN notes
DEN lost 84-122. DEN shot 40% (34 of 84) to NYK's 53%, 5 of 26 from three, and got to the line 13 times to NYK's 20. DEN turned it over 19 times to NYK's 8, and NYK turned those into 12 steals. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 18, 2 of 3 from three); Gordon added 12. Q4 was theirs, 18-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-66 against them. Murray's -29 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 vs PHI 111-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 111-105. DEN shot 45% (37 of 82) to PHI's 53%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 38 times to PHI's 16 — 24 points from the stripe to their 13. Jokić led with 26 (8 of 16, 10 of 16 at the line); Murray added 23, Porter Jr. 20. The hinge was Q4, 25-17: DEN came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 6. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/29 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 32 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 30 and Lillard at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 32 free throws a game to Denver's 22 and the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Milwaukee's 119. Call it Denver 117, Milwaukee 116, Milwaukee keeping it close.
1/31 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-1 and the arc, OKC at 36 percent from three to Denver's 30. Call it OKC 115, Denver 109.
2/02 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 25 and Ayton at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Denver 114, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.
2/04 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 19 a game. One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Grant at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Sharpe (12 straight), Rupert (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Portland minus-4. Call it Denver 114, Portland 108.
1/19 @ ORL 124-109 — PHI notes
PHI won 124-109. PHI shot 48% (42 of 87) to ORL's 47%, 13 of 30 from three. PHI turned it over 7 times to ORL's 16. Embiid led with 36 (12 of 22, 11 of 11 at the line); Maxey added 32, Oubre Jr. 15. The hinge was Q2, 36-26: PHI came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 22. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/20 @ CHA 97-89 — PHI notes
PHI won 97-89. PHI shot 42% (36 of 85) to CHA's 41%, 5 of 25 from three, and went to the line 24 times to CHA's 14 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. PHI turned it over 10 times to CHA's 16. Embiid led with 33 (11 of 23, 11 of 12 at the line); Harris added 21, Maxey 16. The hinge was Q4, 28-16: PHI came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 8. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/22 vs SAS 133-123 — PHI notes
PHI won 133-123. PHI shot 49% (48 of 97) to SAS's 46%, 5 of 20 from three, and went to the line 40 times to SAS's 27 — 32 points from the stripe to their 24. Embiid led with 70 (24 of 41, 21 of 23 at the line); Maxey added 18, Harris 14. The hinge was Q3, 42-31: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 19. Harris was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/25 @ IND 122-134 — PHI notes
PHI lost 122-134. PHI shot 48% (42 of 87) to IND's 57%, 7 of 29 from three, and went to the line 43 times to IND's 21 — 31 points from the stripe to their 16. PHI turned it over 12 times to IND's 21. The glass went 31-55 against them. Embiid led with 31 (11 of 20, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Maxey added 22, Martin 11. Q4 was theirs, 33-24, the deficit cut from 21 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 110-89 against them. Maxey's -29 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 @ DEN 105-111 — PHI notes
PHI lost 105-111. PHI shot 53% (43 of 81) to DEN's 45%, 6 of 22 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DEN's 38. Reed led with 30 (14 of 21, 2 of 4 from three); Oubre Jr. added 25, Beverley 17. Q3 was theirs, 26-22, turning a 2-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-79 against them.
1/29 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Brogdon at 19 a game. Without Sharpe (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 30 free throws a game; Embiid at 42 and Maxey at 22 a game. Without Harris (2 straight), Melton (7 straight), Covington (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to Philadelphia's 9 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 30 free throws a game to Portland's 23. Call it Philadelphia 118, Portland 111.
1/30 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 127, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 17 free throws a game; Curry at 32 and Kuminga at 25 a game. Without Paul (8 straight), Moody (6 straight), Payton II (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 22 from three, 30 free throws a game; Embiid at 45 and Maxey at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (2 straight), Embiid (2 straight), Melton (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 43 percent from three to Philadelphia's 22 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 30 free throws a game to Golden State's 17. Call it Golden State 121, Philadelphia 117, Philadelphia keeping it close.
2/01 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 130, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 20 and Sexton at 17 a game. Without Hendricks (9 straight), Juzang (23 straight), Sensabaugh (9 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 28 from three, 30 free throws a game; Embiid at 38 and Harris at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (3 straight), Melton (9 straight), Covington (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 37 percent from three to Philadelphia's 28 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-6. Call it Utah 120, Philadelphia 119, Philadelphia keeping it close.
2/03 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Harris at 21 and Oubre Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Melton (10 straight), Batum (2 straight), Morris Sr. (2 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 26 and Thomas at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight), Wilson (12 straight), Sharpe (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to Philadelphia's 124 and the arc, Brooklyn at 38 percent from three to Philadelphia's 32. Call it Philadelphia 116, Brooklyn 115, Brooklyn keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JM J. Murray
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
PHIDH D. House Jr.
FK F. Korkmaz
JS J. Springer
KM K. Martin
KO K. Oubre Jr.
MM M. Morris Sr.
NB N. Batum
PB P. Beverley
PR P. Reed
DEN/PHI the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jokic, Nuggets fend off gritty 76ers 111-105 as Embiid sits out for 4th consecutive time in Denver
DENVER -- — This matinee was no marquee, not with one of its co-stars missing again.
The Denver Nuggets fended off the gritty, short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 111-105 on Saturday behind 26 points and 16 rebounds from Nikole Jokic, who was again denied his rematch with fellow MVP contender Joel Embiid .
Philadelphia's star center missed the Sixers’ game at Denver for a fourth consecutive season after the team’s medical staff determined he shouldn’t play on his balky left knee.
Denying hoops fans another marquee matchup between the last two NBA MVPs, the Sixers scratched Embiid minutes before tipoff after he grimaced through his warmups.
“He really wanted to play, and the medical team did not deem him fit to play today,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “That's too bad for those fans. That's too bad.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone was miffed by the late nature of Embiid's scratch.
“We found out very late and again, I don't know how you go from being active/available to out,” Malone said. “And I'm sure the league will do their due diligence because that's frowned upon. We've had situations this year where we've talked to the league and they told us if a player goes from being active to out, there's going to be an investigation.”
Embiid tweaked his troublesome left knee against the Pacers on Thursday night, but he wasn't listed on the injury report Saturday.
“I'm sure he is hurt,” Malone said. “But it's just really tough on the (opponent) preparing for them and then all of a sudden, last minute, he's out.
"But, we have to do a better job of handling those situations.”
Embiid was preparing to play without much of his supporting cast as Tyrese Maxey (ankle), Tobias Harris (illness) and Mo Bamba (knee) were all ruled out well before he was.
Counting Embiid, that’s 84 points of scoring averages that the Sixers were missing. But the tired Nuggets, coming off a season-long 12-day East Coast swing, couldn't shake the Sixers until the closing minutes.
Jamal Murray scored 23 points for Denver and Michael Porter Jr . had 20. Paul Reed led Philadelphia with a career-best 30 points and Kelly Oubre Jr . had 25.
Jokic didn't want to dwell on Embiid's latest absence on the Ball Arena court, saying Reed deserved the airtime instead for his spectacular performance.
Besides, Jokic said, what Embiid is doing this season is absolutely breathtaking.
“He's putting history right now in front of our eyes, and he's making it look so easy,” Jokic said.
Embiid is averaging 36 points and 11.4 rebounds, and Malone said 90 minutes before the game that the Sixers' All-Star center has become “really unguardable.”
That is, when he's not unavailable -- which is sometimes the case, especially in Denver, where he hasn't played since Nov. 8, 2019.
Embiid has missed 11 games this season and because of the NBA's new rules he can only miss six more to remain eligible for the league’s awards. That includes MVP, which he won last year for the first time while denying Jokic a third consecutive such honor.
Embiid and Jokic have jockeyed for MVP front-runner status each of the last four seasons, including this one. Each has been runner-up when the other won the award.
In the Sixers' 126-121 win over the Nuggets on Jan. 16, Embiid had 41 points and 10 assists to Jokic’s 25 points and 19 rebounds but complimented Jokic afterward as the game's best player and congratulated him on leading Denver to its first NBA title last summer.
Embiid was mocked last year with “Missing Person” signs in the stands at Ball Arena after he sat out the Sixers’ game in Denver with a sore right calf, leading to accusations he was ducking Jokic. When the crowd realized he wasn't playing Saturday, chants of “Where's Embiid?” broke out as the Nuggets jumped out to a 13-4 lead.
“I think everybody was like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is going to be a cakewalk today,’" Malone said. “Well, it wasn't a cakewalk. This was a tough, tough win."
Embiid was street clothes and cheering on his teammates courtside by game's end, but he wasn't around afterward in the locker room to talk about his latest absence.
UP NEXT
76ers: Visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Nuggets: Host the Bucks in Doc Rivers’ Milwaukee coaching debut Monday night.