The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to end this grueling stretch of having to play seven of eight games on the road on the right note on Monday when they took on the Denver Nuggets. Unfortunately, they had to go into battle without James Harden and Joel Embiid.
That ended up costing them. They fell behind by as many as 22 against the Western Conference leaders. While a spirited effort by the bench unit allowed Philadelphia to cut the deficit to three late, they fell, 116-111, to the Nuggets for their third consecutive loss. It appeared Nuggets forward Jeff Green stepped out of bounds with Denver up, 114-111, before the officials called a foul on Jalen McDaniels, but when the Sixers challenged the foul call, the officials ruled that it stood.
Without Embiid, the Sixers couldn’t contain two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The Denver star finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. He was masterful for the Nuggets.
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey had 29 points, including 25 in the first half. Tobias Harris had 16. Paul Reed had 16 and nine rebounds. McDaniels had 14 points and was a part of the group that cut the deficit to three late.
NBA Twitter reacted to Jokic and the Nuggets winning the contest:
Battle of the Bigs tonight:
Paul Reed and Nikola Jokic combine for 41/26/13
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/oaZd1wS9Cs— M (@tobiased_harris) March 28, 2023
Only 3 players in NBA history have recorded 10+ games with 20+ PTS, 15+ REB, and 10+ AST in a season.
Wilt Chamberlain
Oscar Robertson
Nikola Jokic pic.twitter.com/7f4cfv8OIC— NBA History (@NBAHistory) March 28, 2023
Most 20/15/10 games this season:
10 — Nikola Jokic
6 — Everyone else combined pic.twitter.com/rOIL1p1RVX— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 28, 2023
Nikola Jokic tonight:
25 Points
17 Rebounds
12 Assists
2 Blocks
72% FG pic.twitter.com/5AJkqVyDFj— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 28, 2023
Nikola Jokic tonight:
25 points
17 rebounds
12 assists
2 blocks
72% FGW. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4jg2T7KS1D
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) March 28, 2023
Tyrese Maxey at half:
25 PTS
10-16 FG
2-4 3PMore points than Jokic and Jamal combined. pic.twitter.com/bI2k144Uar
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 28, 2023
.@TyreseMaxey's 20 second-quarter points are the most he's ever scored in a single period in his career.
He joins @JoelEmbiid (4) as the only @sixers to post at least 20 points in a quarter this season.
h/t @Stathead
— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) March 28, 2023
Tyrese Maxey cashes the stepback for a first-half 20 piece 🎯
Watch live on NBA TV
📺: https://t.co/WjxYAo0Ivs pic.twitter.com/Ec7fpV0S9F— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2023
Jamal Murray (15 PTS) and Tyrese Maxey (25 PTS) trade buckets to end the first half 👀
Nuggets up 61-57 at the break.
Watch live on NBA TV
📺: https://t.co/WjxYAo0Ivs pic.twitter.com/jIXvaE1uzy— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2023
Tyrese Maxey scores a career high 20 points in a quarter.
Maxey's total scoring on the night is up to 25 on 62.5% (10/16) shooting. pic.twitter.com/WUmXLn1dH3
— Sixers Nation (@PHLSixersNation) March 28, 2023
The Nuggets broadcast said that it was apparent Jeff Green was out and that it would be Philly ball. But the officials didn’t agree.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) March 28, 2023
Jeff Green got free throws after Doc challenged the call but his foot is out of bounds LMAO pic.twitter.com/R8hW34jei6
— Dani (@Danizeh) March 28, 2023
Well, it was.
My hunch is they can't overturn that part of the play, only the foul. That's a big miss, Sixers would have had a chance to tie.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) March 28, 2023
🗣️ COAST TO COAST PAUL REED LFG! pic.twitter.com/AVf462jCcK
— Thiago (@ThiagoPHL) March 28, 2023
Even with Jokic in the game, Paul Reed gave the Sixers their best minutes from the five tonight.
— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) March 28, 2023
Tyrese Maxey has been phenomenal. This kid plays with no fear and he's keeping Philly in this game. #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) March 28, 2023
Final: Denver 116, Philadelphia 111.
Nikola Jokic finishes with 25 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists for the Nuggets, who made this awfully interesting after leading by 20 midway through the fourth.
Tyrese Maxey had 29 to lead Philly, who goes home to host Dallas Wednesday.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 28, 2023
What in the world is happening.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) March 28, 2023
FINAL: Nuggets 116, Sixers 111. Sixers' deep reserves made this unexpectedly interesting late, but Philly has has now lost three in a row for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 5. This brutal stretch of 12 of 15 on the road is finally over.
Up next: Wednesday vs. Dallas.
— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) March 28, 2023
