The Philadelphia 76ers had a massive showdown clash against the Denver Nuggets for which many NBA fans were hyped. They felt that it was a great opportunity to see the top MVP contenders to go up against each other. However they were left disappointed ahead of the game when Joel Embiid pulled out of the game due toa ligament issue in his calf.

It was a massive bummer for the NBA and for the fans who desperately wanted the clash of the two MVP contenders. Most people feel that Embidd intentionally did this to avoid the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic. These two are considered the top two finalists for the MVP pick for the third consecutive season. However, Jokic won the last two seasons.

While many fans and expert were left disappointed by Embiid’s snub for this high profile game, Kendrick Perkins has only raised the speculations a notch higher. He feels that Embiid missed out a big opportunity against Jokic. He feels that beating Jokic here would have assured him of the MVP award.

“Joel Embiid is ducking that smoke today,” Kendrick Perkins said. “He has been on record. We know how much it means to him to win this award (MVP), and here it is. You gave Jokic a spanking when they was down there in Philly. You have to give him an opportunity to get his lick back. You cannot sit out this game.”

Currently Embiid is regarded as the favorite to win the MVP award but Nikola Jokic is right at his heels in second position. Jokic has won the award twice in consecutive seasons. However sitting out a crucial game like the Nuggets will surely hamper Embiid’s chances of winning the prestigious award. But Embiid was going through some concerns with his calf and was pulled in during their victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

The Sixers lost 111-116 against the Nuggets and are now third in the Eastern Conference standings. They have a 49-26 record currently and are only behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. Meanwhile the Nuggets are at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 51-24.