In a battle between the NBA’s top two MVP candidates from the past few seasons, Joel Embiid got the last laugh over Nikola Jokic on Saturday afternoon.
After the game, he downplayed the head-to-head matchup with the two-time reigning MVP—and his All-Star starter snub from Thursday—as having given him extra motivation.
“Not necessarily,” he said. “I’m used to it. It’s not the first time. I think it’s more of a motivation to go out there and try win the whole thing. I guess that’s the only way I’m probably going to get that respect. I think we’ve got a pretty good chance.