DENVER — A highly anticipated matchup between two of the NBA's best big men did not happen Saturday.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was inactive against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
The game was expected to feature the top two centers in the league, who together won the last three MVP awards. Embiid received the honor last season, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic won the two before that.
Embiid is the betting favorite to win another MVP award this year. Jokic has the second-best odds.
The 76ers' X account promoted Embiid vs. Jokic just hours before the game with a photo of the two playing against each other and the caption "big(s) game today." He was ruled out minutes before the game due to discomfort in his left knee.
With Embiid in the Sixers' locker room, the Ball Arena crowd broke out into chants of “Where's Embiid?” as the Nuggets opened their game against the short-handed Sixers with a 13-4 run.
Also sitting out at Denver were 76ers Tyrese Maxey (sprained left ankle), Tobias Harris (illness) and Mo Bamba (inflamed right knee).
Embiid was mocked last year with “Missing Person” signs in the stands at Ball Arena after he sat out the Sixers’ game in Denver with a sore right calf, leading to accusations he was ducking Jokic.
Embiid has not played in Denver since Nov. 8, 2019.
The Nuggets won Saturday's game 111-105.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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