In a thrilling match that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Denver Nuggets emerged victorious over the Philadelphia 76ers with a final score of 111-105. The game showcased the immense talent and skill of both teams, but it was ultimately the Nuggets' determination and teamwork that secured their triumph.
From the very beginning, it was evident that this would be a closely contested battle. The first quarter saw both teams trading baskets, with neither side able to establish a significant lead. However, as the game progressed, it became clear that the Nuggets were gaining momentum. Led by their star player Jamal Murray, who scored an impressive 30 points throughout the match, they began to dominate both offensively and defensively.
"Not until about 20-25 to go on the clock," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said when asked when he knew Embiid wouldn't be able to play. "He did go out to do his regular warmup and the medical care team just didn't like what they saw and ... they just decided that it was safer, much safer for him not to play today."
Embiid missed three games earlier this month with the same issue and appeared to tweak the knee again in Thursday's road loss to the Indiana Pacers, though it's unclear how much time he will miss with the injury this time around.
Nurse said Embiid, Tyrese Maxey (ankle) and Tobias Harris (illness) will all be re-evaluated Sunday ahead of Monday's game in Portland against the Trail Blazers.
Paul Reed went for a career-high 30 points, shooting 14-of-21 from the floor and 2-of-4 from downtown. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 25 points shooting 9-of-17 from the field, while Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris Sr. had 17 points apiece.
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.
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 on the court or even on the bench Saturday, chants of "Where's Embiid?" broke out as the Nuggets jumped out to a 13-4 lead.
But the Sixers' reserves made a game of it, trailing 64-62 at halftime and taking a lead into the final quarter, by which time Embiid had joined his teammates on the bench.
Beverley was one of his team’s most dynamic catalysts at the offensive end. He had a double-double by the end of the third quarter, play-making in lieu of Maxey for 17 points and 11 assists.
As impressive as Murray was, he was vexed at the foul line just as much as his teammates. This has been a problem all season for the Nuggets. They entered the Philly rematch ranked 28th in free throw percentage, and they failed to take advantage of a sizable advantage in trips to the line Saturday by shooting 24-for-38 there.
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