Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets held off a Philadelphia 76ers team without star center Joel Embiid, earning a 111-105 win on Saturday.
Embiid, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, was a late scratch for the visiting 76ers with left knee soreness, sitting out after going through his pre-game workout.
It is the fourth straight season that Embiid has missed a chance to go face-to-face with two-time MVP Jokic in Denver.
Philadelphia, who beat Denver at home earlier this month, were also without injured pair Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris but pushed the Nuggets all the way in a close affair.
Jokic put up 26 points and 16 rebounds while Jamal Murray scored 23 points and Michael Porter Jr scored 20 for Denver, who led 64-62 at the half.
Paul Reed made an alley oop layup to make it a four point game with 24 seconds remaining but after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drained two free throws, Murray blocked Marcus Morris’s three-point attempt.
Reed led the Sixers with 30 points and added 13 rebounds while Kelly Oubre had 25 points.
Jokic said he wasn’t surprised that a depleted Philadelphia put up such a good fight.
“They have a really professional bench, pros that are playing in the league for such a long time and a couple of rookies or players who don’t play that much and wanted to show that they can play, they fight.
“It was the first game after a long road trip, a tough one but in the end, the second half was amazing for us,” he added.
Embiid came on court at the end of the game and chatted with Jokic who was quick to praise his rival.
“Whether you are a basketball fan, a soccer fan or an NFL fan, I think you need to appreciate what he is doing right now, it’s historic. He’s making history right now,” said the Serb.
The Miami Heat suffered a sixth straight loss with 125-109 defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden with Jalen Brunson starring with 31 points and eight assists.
It is the first time Miami have lost six in a row since March, 2021 but also highlighted the Knicks’ improvement since trading for OG Anunoby in December.
New York are 12-2 since adding Anunoby from Toronto and he played a key role in the win with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
– Rally around –
Miami, beaten finalists last year, are seventh in the East with a 24-22 record and coach Erik Spoelstra said his team needed to stick together.
“Right now we’re going to rally around each other, rally around our identity. It’s a tough time right now,” he said.
Media reports said the Knicks two-time All-Star Julus Randle, who went out injured in the fourth quarter, dislocated a right shoulder.
Randle, who has played in all 46 games for the Knicks this season and had 19 points against Miami, is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday.
The forward suffered a hard fall as he attempted a lay-up and head coach Tom Thibodeau said he was very concerned about the injury.
“He’s a guy that plays through things and that’s what you love about him,” said the coach.
“He’s a warrior (but) anytime someone walks back (to the locker room), you know it’s something,” he said.
Washington Wizards interim head coach Brain Keefe earned his first win since taking over from the fired Wes Unseld Jr with a 118-104 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Kyle Kuzma top scored for the Wizards with 30 points in the meeting of the two worst teams in the NBA and Keefe’s second game following defeat to the Utah Jazz on Thursday.