Joel Embiid out vs. Jokic's Nuggets on Monday / News - Basketnews.com

Joel Embiid will not play in a highly anticipated showdown against Nikola Jokic and Denver.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports/Scanpix

A showdown between two of the top MVP candidates is over before it could begin.

Philadelphia 76ers / Schedule

Philadelphia 76ers Chicago Bulls105-109 Chicago Bulls Philadelphia 76ers91-116 Golden State Warriors Philadelphia 76ers120-112 Phoenix Suns Philadelphia 76ers125-105 Denver Nuggets Philadelphia 76ersTue01:30 Philadelphia 76ers Dallas MavericksWed23:30 Philadelphia 76ers Toronto RaptorsFri23:00

The Philadelphia 76ers have ruled out star center Joel Embiid with right calf tightness for Monday's road game against the Denver Nuggets.

The game would have pit Embiid, who has emerged as a favorite for the MVP award, against reigning two-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic.

Embiid leads the NBA in scoring (33.3 points per game) and had a strong showing against Jokic when the teams played in Philadelphia on Jan. 28, finishing with 47 points and 18 rebounds in a 126-119 win.

Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double this season (24.9 ppg, 11.8 ppg, 9.9 apg) and is coming off a 31-point, 11-assist showing in a 129-106 win against the Milwaukee Bucks and their MVP candidate, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Nuggets (50-24) remain No. 1 in the Western Conference standings and have the third-best record in the NBA.

The 76ers (49-25) are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and trail the Bucks for No. 1 by four games with eight games left to play.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.