Joel Embiid repeatedly has said that he believes he was snubbed when he didn’t win the Most Valuable Player award each of the past two seasons when Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets did.
Then just this week, Embiid said he was surprised that he wasn’t named as a starter in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game despite leading the league in scoring.
Embiid used these situations as motivation in a stirring 47-point, 18-rebound performance in a 126-119 win over the Nuggets on Saturday.
He’ll have another chance to build his case for redemption when the Sixers look for their eighth consecutive victory as they host the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Since starting the season 12-12, the Sixers have gone 20-4 to surge into second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers’ success is largely connected to Embiid, who produced his 33rd career game with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Since the 1976-77 season, Embiid has the second-most 40-10 performances, trailing only Shaquille O’Neal with 43.
Embiid also sparked a second-half comeback after the Sixers looked a bit flat and trailed 73-58 at the half.
James Harden also was impressive with 17 points, 13 assists and no turnovers.
The Magic will look to avoid a third straight loss when they battle the Sixers.
Orlando fell 128-109 to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, though it whittled a 25-point deficit down to six with 5:08 remaining.
Moritz Wagner paced the Magic with 27 points, but the poor start was too much to overcome.
Cole Anthony added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists and provided a spark down the stretch.
But the Magic’s furious comeback landed short.
Orlando’s Markelle Fultz will return to Philadelphia to play the team that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Fultz struggled with criticism from poor shooting and a shoulder injury with the Sixers.
In 29 games (all starts) this season, Fultz is averaging 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
