By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The next potential chance to watch Nikola Jokic against Joel Embiid will be in the 2023 NBA Finals.
The Philadelphia 76ers officially ruled out Embiid for the game versus the Denver Nuggets in Ball Arena tonight, Monday.
Embiid, 29, was sidelined with right calf tightness. The Sixers opted to give him some rest in the crunch time of the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season, as reported by ESPN. The decision canceled the highly anticipated battle of season MVP candidates with the Joker put on the other corner.
In contrast to the Cameroon-born center pondering between France and the USA for an international career, James Harden went through the morning shootaround and is expected to become available after missing the previous three games with left Achilles soreness. Another player listed as questionable, Danuel House Jr. is also expected to be cleared for action.
Clinching a berth in the Playoffs, Philadelphia seems destined for the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a distance of 2.5 games behind the second-placed Boston Celtics and two games ahead of the fourth-placed Cleveland Cavaliers. Back home to wrap up the week, they will face the Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
Behind the confident assistance of Jokic, the Nuggets sit on top of the Western Conference standings with a three-game advantage over the second-placed Memphis Grizzlies. Michael Porter Jr. is questionable to play against the 76ers due to left heel load management, while two-way players Collin Gillespie (right lower leg fracture) and Jack White (health and safety protocols) are both out.
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