Nuggets game day: Denver has to deal with Embiid this time around

On Dec. 30, the Denver Nuggets fell at home to the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers 107-102. It was an uncharacteristic offensive night for the Nuggets, who shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 7-32 (21.9 percent) from three. It was also an off night for Denver’s star center Nikola Jokic, who shot an inefficient 5-14 from the field on the way to 19 points. At that time, the 76ers were 1-6 without their All-Star center.

The defeat plunged the Nuggets into their worst funk of the season — a three-week stretch that could go a long way toward keeping Denver out of the playoffs for a fifth straight year. The Nuggets went on to lose six of their next 10 games. Losses to the Kings, Hawks and Suns over those next few weeks still burn inside Denver’s locker room.

“We just kind of self-imploded,” Mason Plumlee said after the loss.

Denver struggled to shoot the ball for 48 minutes that night, but it wasn’t because of Philadelphia’ defense, Jamal Murray said. Ironically, with Embiid playing at an All-NBA level this season, the 76ers defense is precisely what should concern Denver this time around.

Thanks largely to Embiid, the 76ers boast the league’s fourth-best defense, and with their seven-foot unicorn on the floor, Philadelphia allows 99.0 points per 100 possessions. The 76ers perform like the league’s best defense when Embiid plays. When he sits, they allow 106.1 points per 100 possessions — a fairly average mark league-wide.

That discrepancy makes Embiid a contender for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s also played in 61 out of 72 games this season and has the 76ers positioned at fourth in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia has won six in a row and just clinched its first playoff berth in six season. In those six games, Embiid is averaging 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks per game.

Rookie Ben Simmons has also done his part. Simmons, who’s battling Jazz point guard Donovan Mitchell for Rookie of the Year honors, has five triple-doubles in his last seven games.

The Nuggets enter Monday’s contest 1 1/2 games back of the Utah Jazz for the eighth seed in the West. After dropping its first two games of a season-long seven-game road trip, Denver picked up back-to-back wins in Chicago and Washington. But for the Nuggets to qualify for the postseason, Denver needs to keep piecing together victories.

The Nuggets are favorites in just four of their remaining nine games, according to FiveThirtyEight.com.

Gary Harris will miss his fifth consecutive game Monday as he recovers from a right knee sprain/strain suffered March 15 against the Detroit Pistons. Will Barton, who scored 23 points and registered seven rebounds against the Wizards, is expected to once again start in his place.

Because of his defense, two-way player Torrey Craig could see his minutes continue to climb. Nuggets coach Michael Malone is a big fan of Craig’s defense, and he’s one of the more consistent options Denver has on that end of the floor.

With the G League regular season ending March 24, Craig can spend the rest of the season practicing and playing for Denver. He’s still not eligible for the Nuggets’ playoff roster if Denver earns a postseason berth, but the 45-day limit imposed under his two-way contract is no longer a factor.

Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

76ers Projected Starters

Ben Simmons, JJ. Redick, Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Joel Embiid