PHILADELPHIA — After Joel Embiid put up 47 factors, 18 rebounds and 5 assists to steer the Philadelphia 76ers again from a 15-point deficit in defeating his rival for the NBA MVP award, Nikola Jokic, and the Denver Nuggets Saturday, he informed ESPN he believes this 12 months’s squad is the very best and deepest workforce he is been on in his seven NBA seasons.

“I feel so,” stated Embiid, who’s averaging a league-leading 33.8 factors per recreation. “You’ve got bought James Harden, clearly he is been enjoying nice basketball. You’ve got bought Tyrese Maxey, Tobias has been nice, P.J. Tucker … we have a bunch that matches with one another.

“We’ll discover that out (for positive) within the postseason. However I feel so far as the match, you have bought every little thing. Everyone matches with one another, we have shooters, we have defenders, and we have James Harden. So I feel we have probability.”

Embiid was all smiles after a really dominant efficiency — one which got here in opposition to Jokic, whom Embiid has been a runner-up to in every of the previous two seasons for MVP, and two days after Embiid was handed over for a beginning spot in subsequent month’s All-Star Recreation.

After narrowly lacking out on being a starter within the East frontcourt, ending behind Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum because of Tatum ending third to Embiid’s fourth within the fan portion of the voting, Embiid stated it was “somewhat disrespectful” to not be chosen as a starter, after being one every of the previous 5 years.

“I am used to it,” Embiid stated. “It isn’t the primary time. I feel it is extra of a motivation to exit and win the entire thing. That is the one method I am in all probability going to get that respect.”

“I used to be not shocked,” Embiid continued, when requested what he thought when he noticed the voting outcomes are available Thursday night time. “I feel it is properly documented that I am not well-liked. That is cool. I do not know it is as a result of I troll rather a lot or that I assume I am an a–hole. However it’s cool. I maintain being me. I maintain being an a–hole, and I maintain trolling, and if individuals do not prefer it, that is their downside. However like I stated, all of it goes again to profitable.”

He and the 76ers (32-16), who’ve now received an NBA-leading seven straight video games, received Saturday afternoon largely due to Embiid’s dominant efficiency in opposition to his rival, significantly within the second half.

Embiid’s second half line: 28 factors on 10-for-14 taking pictures, to associate with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks and two turnovers, ending a plus-22.

Jokic’s second half line: eight factors on 2-for-5 taking pictures, in addition to 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 turnovers — three of which got here within the closing minutes of the fourth quarter as Philadelphia pulled forward and put the sport away.

Throughout a 17-4 run halfway by the fourth quarter, it was Embiid who scored 9 straight factors — hitting three jumpers over Jokic earlier than hitting a stepback 3-pointer that compelled Denver coach Michael Malone to name timeout — that put Philadelphia forward for good.

He additionally has the respect of Jokic, who stated Embiid in all probability is the NBA’s most dominant participant.

“He is actually gifted,” Embiid stated. “Actually shifty. Is aware of find out how to play and will get the ball the place he needs it. He is a extremely good participant.”

Past Embiid’s heroics, a part of the rationale for the turnaround: the 76ers sticking Tucker on Jokic — a transfer 76ers coach Doc Rivers stated he picked up from watching Tucker guard Jokic whereas with the Miami Heat final season.

“It simply felt like at halftime we weren’t up into (Jokic),” Rivers stated of Jokic, who completed with 24 factors, eight rebounds and 9 assists. “He was catching it the place he wished to catch it, and he is such a focus of their offense that if (Tucker) can rise up below him, catch it on the 3-point line, now these handoffs, you possibly can go below, they do not matter anymore, the place within the first half he caught every little thing on the elbows and low.

“Pay attention Joel was phenomenal — he had 47 factors — however we do not win the sport if P.J. Tucker would not play.”

Naturally, although, the topic of Embiid staring down the potential for a 3rd straight head-to-head battle with Jokic for the league’s MVP award got here up postgame. Embiid has repeatedly praised Jokic extensively, saying he is an amazing participant and that he has lots of respect for him.

When given the possibility to advocate for himself for MVP — and requested if this was an announcement recreation — Embiid stated he is finished doing so.

“I do not know. That is as much as you guys to resolve,” Embiid informed ESPN with a smile, referring to the media, who votes for MVP and the opposite season-ending awards. “Like I informed you, I am finished arguing for myself. It is all on the market. No matter I do.

“However the focus is on profitable. So long as we win, I do know every little thing goes to care for itself. If we maintain profitable, and everybody stays wholesome, I’ve bought a greater probability of going on the market and profitable a championship.”

What’s clear is that whereas Embiid would not know the way the MVP vote goes to play out, he feels awfully good about the place Philadelphia sits with somewhat over two months remaining within the common season. After a gradual begin, which noticed the 76ers lose 4 of their first 5 video games and sitting at .500 after a double additional time loss in Houston on March 5, Philadelphia has gone 20-4 since then — the NBA’s greatest report over that span — in addition to its greatest offense, with an offensive score of 120.1.

For in addition to the 76ers as enjoying, now Embiid needs to see them be extra. Specifically? He needs to see extra consistency from each himself and the group as an entire, pointing to Saturday’s recreation — which noticed Philadelphia surrender 73 factors in a lackluster first half defensively, earlier than making the second-half comeback to drag out the win — for example of failing to play a full 48-minute recreation.

“We present glimpses every now and then,” Embiid informed ESPN. “However we have not been in a position to put collectively a 48-minute recreation. Like tonight — within the second half, we have been locked in. Within the fourth quarter, we have been locked in. Within the first half, we weren’t. So, we have but to place it collectively for 48 minutes.

“I need us to get to that time the place we will do it within the common season going into the playoffs.”