NBA roundup: Suns surge stuns Kings, Embiid shines as Sixers defeat Nuggets

Joel Embiid delivered another stellar performance with a second consecutive 40-point game, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 126-121 victory over the NBA-champion Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. The highly anticipated matchup featured a duel between Embiid, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, and Denver’s two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic.

Embiid, who scored 41 points in his return from injury against the Houston Rockets on Monday, continued his impressive form with 41 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists in the game against the Nuggets. He played a crucial role in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points and helping the Sixers turn a six-point deficit into a victory.

After the game, Embiid credited his teammates for putting him in a position to succeed and emphasized the importance of their trust in him. The sellout crowd of 19,775 at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center witnessed an intense and competitive battle between the two teams.

Embiid shared a friendly exchange with Jokic after the game, expressing admiration for his opponent. “I just told him he’s the best player in the league,” said Embiid. “He won a championship, and that’s the best team in the league, and he’s a finals MVP. I just told him to keep going.” The mutual respect between the two star players added to the significance of the matchup.

Catch every play – Basketball Live score, schedule, and results!

The game remained evenly poised at 111-111 with just over seven minutes remaining. Joel Embiid re-entered the game shortly after Nikola Jokic returned from the bench. The Cameroon-born power forward, Embiid, took control of the contest.

Embiid’s exceptional running reverse layup gave the Sixers a 115-113 lead, followed by a jump shot that extended Philadelphia’s lead to four points with 5 minutes and 30 seconds remaining. A free throw and a 27-foot three-pointer increased the Sixers’ lead to 121-113. Embiid then added a jump shot, pushing Philadelphia’s advantage to 10 points at 123-113, effectively sealing the victory.

Embiid received scoring support from Tyrese Maxey, who contributed 25 points, including four three-pointers, and Tobias Harris, who added 24 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in with 11 points. Nikola Jokic led the Denver scoring with an impressive stat line of 25 points, 19 rebounds, and three assists. The Sixers’ late surge secured the win against the Denver Nuggets.

Michael Porter Jr. contributed 20 points, while Jamal Murray added 17 for the Denver Nuggets. Despite their efforts, Philadelphia emerged victorious, improving their record to 26-13, securing the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Sixers trail the Boston Celtics in first place (31-9), with the Milwaukee Bucks occupying the second spot at 28-12.

On the Western Conference side, the Denver Nuggets maintain their position in third place with a record of 28-14. They sit behind the Minnesota Timberwolves (28-11) in second place and the Oklahoma City Thunder (27-12) in the top spot. The competitive landscape in both conferences adds to the excitement of the NBA regular season as teams jockey for playoff positions.

In other NBA games on Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns staged an incredible fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Sacramento Kings 119-117 in Arizona. Trailing by 22 points with 8 minutes and 22 seconds remaining, the Suns orchestrated an extraordinary 32-8 run in the final minutes to secure the comeback victory.

Kevin Durant played a pivotal role in the Suns’ rally, contributing 15 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with a total of 27 points. Grayson Allen led the Suns in scoring with 29 points. Eric Gordon’s three-pointer tied the game with 45 seconds remaining, and Durant’s two free throws put the Suns ahead 117-115. Despite a late effort by De’Aaron Fox for the Kings, Durant’s additional free throws sealed the remarkable comeback for the Suns.

In another Tuesday matchup, Paul George scored 38 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-117. George’s 28 points in the second half propelled the Clippers to victory, improving their record to 26-14 and placing them fourth in the Western Conference standings. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden added 16 points each for the Clippers, while Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 25 points.