MVP Candidates Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo Duel Ahead of All-Star Break

Joel Embiid MVP Caliber Performance

MVP candidates Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks dueled it out on Thursday night ahead of the all-star break.

Ultimately, Embiid won out as the 76ers narrowly beat the Bucks 123-120.

Embiid had 42 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and six turnovers on 14-21 shooting from the field, 3-4 shooting from three, and 11-14 shooting from the line.

Antetoukounmpo had 32 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and three turnovers on 13-23 shooting from the field, 2-4 shooting from three, and 4-5 shooting from the line.

The 76ers shot better from the field (+5.8%), from three (+3.5%), and from the line (+6.6%).

Antetokounmpo and Embiid have nearly identical season averages – although the former leads the latter in Player Efficiency Rating and Win Shares, via Basketball Reference.

It will be curious to see if 2x NBA MVP Antetokounmpo – and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets – will fall victim to voter fatigue.

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