76ers star Joel Embiid (knee) late scratch vs. Nuggets - ESPN

DENVER — Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid was a late scratch from Saturday afternoon's nationally televised showdown with Denver Nuggets star and MVP challenger Nikola Jokic because of left knee soreness.

After going through his typical pregame workout ahead of the game, the team's medical personnel didn't like how the NBA's reigning MVP was moving around, and chose to shut him down for the game, a league source told ESPN. Embiid was sporting a large wrap on his knee in the locker room before Saturday's game.

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. He wasn't, however, listed on the injury report Saturday.

This marks the fourth straight season Embiid has missed playing against Jokic here in Denver, dating back to the two of them beginning their annual battle for the league's top individual honor in the 2020-21 season.

Embiid missed a March 2021 game because of a meniscus injury, a November 2021 game because of COVID-19 and then in March 2023 sat out with a calf issue.

Embiid's string of missed games in Denver has been a consistent storyline over the past couple of seasons, including when he missed the meeting between these two teams here late in the 2022-23 regular season at the height of the debate over who should win MVP. Eventually, it was Embiid who won his first, beating out Jokic, who was going for a third straight.

Meanwhile, fans in Denver started a loud «Where's Embiid at?» chant midway through the first quarter after Denver raced out to an early lead.

By missing Saturday's matchup, Embiid has now missed 11 games this season — moving him closer to not being eligible for this season's MVP award.