Nikola Jokic has high praise for Joel Embiid despite fizzled matchup

DENVER — Nikola Jokic did not get to face Joel Embiid in a highly anticipated duel with MVP ramifications on Monday night.

With Embiid sitting out due to a right calf injury, Jokic delivered his 29th triple-double of the season to lift the Denver Nuggets to a 116-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at Ball Arena.

The Sixers sat both Embiid and James Harden (sore left Achilles) as Jokic compiled 25 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. Afterward, Jokic, the two-time reigning MVP, dished out nothing but high praise for the Sixers superstar looking to win his own MVP crown.

«I think he's a great player,» Jokic said of Embiid. «I think he's gonna be remembered as one of the most dominant players in the league. The guy's a beast, and he's so talented.

»He can affect [the game] many ways on the floor. He can post up, he can face up, he can shoot 3s. He can defend really well. He can, in some situations, guard 1 through 5. So he's a really, really good player."

Monday's contest was supposed to be one final regular-season showdown between two of the leading MVP candidates, a chance for Jokic and Embiid to deliver a strong case to voters.

For Jokic, this was slated to be his second straight game against another leading MVP candidate. On Saturday, Jokic faced the Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and helped the Nuggets beat the Bucks 129-106. Jokic had 31 points, 11 assists and six rebounds while getting Defensive Player of the Year candidate Brook Lopez into foul trouble.

Then, on Monday morning, the Sixers decided to hold out Embiid to give his sore right calf some rest amid their packed schedule.

In their only other regular-season matchup, Embiid exploded for 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks in a