By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The clash between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic was highly anticipated, but there was a question mark above the heads of both players before the Philadelphia-Denver clash.
Eventually, both Embiid and Jokic made it to the floor, and after a great battle, Joel and the Sixers prevailed 126-121.
As expected, the Cameroonian center was the key figure of the match with 41 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. It was his 18th consecutive 30-point game and the 47th 40-point performance overall. Jokic is the next-best center with 40-point games but has 30 fewer than Joel.
“It’s funny because Twitter, we have a war going on between Philly fans and Denver fans,” Embiid said. “It’s funny because both of us are just like, who cares? We want to play basketball and win some games. But he deserves (the praise). Until you knock him down, that’s the best in the league. He’s the finals MVP. Until you take that away, he can claim that.”
On the other side, Jokic had 25 points and 19 rebounds, but just three assists and no hits from beyond the arc. He denied the rivalry with Joel after the match.
“I’m not playing against him; I’m playing against Philadelphia,” Jokic said. “It was a good matchup.”
Phoenix Suns defeated Sacramento Kings 119-117, thanks to a Kevin Durant eruption in the last quarter, and took the glory away from Domantas Sabonis after another brilliant game.
The Lithuanian center had another triple-double, finishing the match with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Sasha Vezenkov also had a big impact on the Kings’ offense with 14 points on 6-9 shooting from the field.
LA Clippers defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 128-117, with Daniel Theis almost reaching a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
On the other side of the court, Vasilije Micic had a solid outing with seven points on 3-4 shooting from the field.
NBA Results:
Philadelphia – Denver 126-121 (Embiid 41p, 10as, Batum 8p – Jokic 25p, 19r)
Phoenix – Sacramento 119-117 (Nurkic 10p, 15r – Sabonis 21p, 12r, 11as, Vezenkov 14p)
LA Clippers – Oklahoma 128:117 (Theis 9p, 8r – Micic 7p)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 31-9
2. Milwaukee Bucks 28-12
3. Philadelphia 76ers 26-13
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 23-15
5. Miami Heat 24-16
6. Indiana Pacers 23-17
7. New York Knicks 23-17
8. Orlando Magic 22-18
9. Chicago Bulls 19-23
10. Brooklyn Nets 16-23
11. Atlanta Hawks 16-23
12. Toronto Raptors 15-25
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-29
14. Washington Wizards 7-32
15. Detroit Pistons 4-36
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 28-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 27-13
3. Denver Nuggets 28-14
4. Los Angeles Clippers 26-14
5. Sacramento Kings 23-17
6. Dallas Mavericks 24-17
7. New Orleans Pelicans 24-17
8. Phoenix Suns 22-18
9. Utah Jazz 22-20
10. Los Angeles Lakers 20-21
11. Houston Rockets 19-20
12. Golden State Warriors 18-22
13. Memphis Grizzlies 15-25
14. Portland Trail Blazers 10-29
15. San Antonio Spurs 7-32
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins