NBA Top Five Performances, March 17: Joel Embiid’s 38-Point Performance Propelled Philadelphia 76ers Over the Charlotte Hornets

TOP PLAYERS OF THE DAY:

For weeks, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was the runaway favorite for the MVP this season. Joel Embiid is closing in on Jokic, especially after putting up 38 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ blowout win against the Charlotte Hornets.

Some sites already have Embiid as the favorite with the Sixers on a seven-game win streak while Jokic and the Nuggets lost four consecutive before Thursday.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers talked about Embiid’s playmaking on the night that puts him at the top of the conversation.

“I like what he’s doing,” Rivers said. “He had 38 points in under three quarters, but he’s also dominating the game on the other end. He’s making the right passes. He’s including his teammates and not forcing anything. It’s coming to him out of the flow of the game organically and naturally. Defensively, he’s been dominant with blocking shots and rebounding.”

OTHERS:

- DeMar DeRozan went off for 49 points, 14 rebounds and three steals in the Chicago Bulls’ double-overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

- Kyrie Irving returned after a three-game absence to lift the Dallas Mavericks over the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving had a 38-point performance, including 13 in the fourth quarter with the game-winning assist to Maxi Kleber.

- Tyus Jones’ first career triple-double helped the Memphis Grizzlies overcome a 29-point deficit in their overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs. Jones had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, including four of the Grizzlies’ last seven points in the extra period.

- Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young had 25 points and a clutch steal against Steph Curry to hand the Golden State Warriors their 10th consecutive road loss.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.