An Injury indeed will impede Embiid from playing in Denver for the fifth consecutive time and the seventh in nine seasons, but the Philadelphia 76ers will proceed Tuesday night although it is agreed that they won’t succeed and should just concede.

Guaranteed.

Joel Embiid has played a total of 57 minutes against the Nuggets here in his career. He first appeared at The Can Dec. 30, 2016, and last participated Nov. 11, 2019. Otherwise, Embiid has been designated “not with team” once, “inactive” four times, “did not dress” once and “left in Philadelphia with swelling in left knee” now.

Embiid apparently is more afraid of Nikola Jokic than Virginia Wolff and The Big Bad Wolf. And he’s been fragile since being drafted third overall in 2014 by the 76ers. He should be named the “The 38er”. He basically begged to be MVP in 2022-23 and prevented The Joker from winning four consecutive awards. But Nikola was unanimous NBA Finals MVP the same season when the Nuggets won one more championship with Jokic than Philly has with Joel.

Oddly enough, Jokic has missed a rare six games of 41 because of the birth of his son, an illness and an elbow strain. But the Nuggets begin the second half of their season Sunday afternoon in Orlando with a 25-16 record. They return for home games Tuesday against the 76ers and the Kings Thursday. Then they are confronting the season’s longest trip for five games in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia (when Embiid most likely will play) and Charlotte.

Be aware of the Nuggets vs. the Kings because that could be an earlier matchup in the playoffs. And Michael Malone will have more than a passing interest because Sacramento fired him as coach, and he recently ripped the ownership when they dumped Mike Brown.

The Nuggets have a better record on the road than at home – barely (13-8 to 12-8). February could be exceedingly kind if the Nuggets do not suffer more injuries to Jokic, Aaron Gordon or any other of the regulars in the rotation. They play seven of eight at The Jar (including double-ups against the Pelicans and Portland) and the lone roadie is at Phoenix. They should win eight in the shortest month of 2025 and pass the Rockets and the Grizzlies for second place in the Western Conference.

Denver and nobody else in the West is catching lightning and catching the Thunder, who have won 18 of 20 at home and 16 of 20 away from Oklahoma City. The Thunder will finish first, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite to edge out Jokic as Most Valuable Player. However, the league’s leading scorer at 31.6 will have to make a compelling argument because The Joker is third averaging 30.4 points a game and is the No. 1 rebounder at 13.1 and No. 2 in assists at 9.9. Nikola, who produced the NBA high 16th triple-double in Miami despite not playing in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ blowout over the Heat.

And Gilgeous-Alexander might experience a dip considering that he has a sprained right wrist and was held out of the loss to the Dallas Mavericks Friday.

Conceivably, but probably not realistically, The NBA’s Biggest Man of Big Men could average a triple-double for the season. Only two others have achieved the unique feat. Oscar Robertson was first, and did it once. Jokic’s teammate and new best friend, Russell Westbrook, was a four-timer.

Westbrook has been a godsend to the Nuggets, shockingly, and a leader on the court as a starter and in the locker room as a veteran on a mission.

Jamal Murray has rediscovered his shooting flair and has ascended to 20 points a game. The Nuggets finally have developed a capable four-man reserve unit led by Gordon & Jordan. Aaron is back and serving as the Sixth Man, and DeAndre Jordan, who is 36 and in his 17th season, escaped from his permanent warmups and is giving the Nuggets a solid five-minute man for Jokic. Peyton Watson has grown from his short stint as a starter, and Julian Strawther awakened. Michael Porter Jr., who seemed on his way out, and Christian Braun have played solid.

Nine is enough. The Nuggets possess a post-season roster that will contend. A trade is not necessary.

So, who cares about No-Show Embiid?