When it involves the 2023 NBA MVP Award, three gamers have distinguished themselves as prime candidates: Philadelphia 76ers heart Joel Embiid, Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo.
All three gamers are having spectacular seasons, and a robust argument might be made in favor of every of them. Picking between them is like splitting hairs, as they are saying, as they’re all technically deserving of the league’s most prestigious particular person award. But just one can win, and in a race that initiatives to be extraordinarily shut, head-to-head matchups might be an vital issue within the eyes of some voters.
With that in thoughts, here is a have a look at how the highest three MVP candidates fared towards one another in video games this season.
Joel Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic
Since they’re in numerous conferences, the Sixers and Nuggets meet simply twice a season — as soon as in Philadelphia and as soon as in Denver. This season, Embiid and the Sixers bested the Nuggets at dwelling in January, whereas the Nuggets returned the favor in March in a sport that Embiid missed because of calf soreness.
Game 1: Jan. 28, 2023 — Sixers gained, 126-119
Embiid: 47 factors, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 38 minutes (+14)Jokic: 24 factors, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 38 minutes (-4)
Game 2: March 27, 2023 — Nuggets gained, 116-111
Embiid: DNP (calf soreness) Jokic: 25 factors, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 blocks, 34 minutes (+11)
Nikola Jokic vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Just just like the Sixers and Nuggets, the Bucks performed Denver simply twice, and the 2 groups cut up the season collection with every group profitable on its dwelling ground. Jokic missed the primary sport between the 2 groups in January with hamstring soreness, whereas Antetokounmpo suited up for each video games.
Game 1: Jan. 25, 2023 — Bucks gained, 107-99
Antetokounmpo: 33 factors, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 31 minutes (+10)Jokic: DNP (hamstring soreness)
Game 2: March 25, 2023 — Nuggets gained, 129-106
Antetokounmpo: 31 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assits, 4 steals, 32 minutes (-15)Jokic: 31 factors, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 32 minutes (+19)
Joel Embiid vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Sixers and Bucks performed 4 instances on the season, they usually cut up the season collection with each groups profitable as soon as at dwelling and as soon as on the highway. Both Embiid and Antetokounmpo performed in all 4 video games.
Game 1: Oct. 20, 2022 — Bucks gained, 90-88
Embiid: 15 factors, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 36 minutes (-10) Antetokounmpo: 21 factors, 13 rebounds, 8 assists 3 blocks, 1 steal, 36 minutes (+13)
Game 2: Nov. 18, 2022 — 76ers gained, 110-102
Embiid: 32 factors, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 37 minutes (+8) Antetokounmpo: 25 factors, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 34 minutes (-12)
Game 3: Mar 4, 2023 — 76ers gained, 133-130
Embiid: 31 factors, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 37 minutes (-7) Antetokounmpo: 34 factors, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 35 minutes (-14)
Game 4: April 2, 2023 — Bucks gained, 117-104
Embiid: 28 factors, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 32 minutes (-10) Antetokounmpo: 33 factors, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 32 minutes (+21)
Keep in thoughts that these video games are a really small pattern of the for much longer common season, however they might nonetheless function a bit of the puzzle with regards to differentiating between three deserving candidates. For what it is price, Antetokounmpo is the one one of many three to play in the entire video games towards the opposite prime candidates, whereas Embiid was the one one to earn wins over each of the opposite guys.
