By any calculation, the matchup should’ve heavily favored 76ers star Joel Embiid. And maybe a year ago it would have.
But when Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray got switched onto Embiid in the final, feverish minutes of Denver’s recent historic comeback win over Philadelphia, Denver’s point guard stood his ground.
First Murray tried fronting the towering 7-footer, doing all he could to deny an entry pass despite giving up eight inches and 40 pounds. Once Embiid got the ball, Murray showed his hands, shuffled his feet and kept his shoulders square to the gigantic frame burrowing down on him.