The matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets was a battle of two big men. However, Joel Embiid did not participate. He was ruled out at the last second, and Paul Reed stepped up to score a career-high 30 points on Nikola Jokic in a 111-105 loss.
Reed drained jumper after jumper as the Nuggets challenged him to shoot. With Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris among the many inactive 76ers, Reed picked up the slack and led a game highlighted by Jokic and Jamal Murray, who had 26 and 23 points, respectively. Bball Paul made 14 of his 21 shots and had 13 rebounds.
“Paul Reed played really good for them, and we need to give him credit,” the Nuggets superstar said after the game, according to team writer Matt Brooks.
Full highlights from Paul Reed's 30-Point game in Denver: pic.twitter.com/9tqNSF3IfM
— Daniel Olinger (@dan_olinger) January 28, 2024
Reed, who became the 76ers’ backup center midway through last season, has established himself as a stingy rebounder and versatile defender. Only this season has he demonstrated a willingness to shoot from deep, but he averages only 0.5 three-pointers per game. This game was an outstanding demonstration of not only his belief in his hard work, but also the progress he has made in his game.
Patrick Beverley did an excellent job getting Reed good looks, scoring 17 points and dishing out 11 assists. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 25 points, while Marcus Morris Sr. added 17. The 76ers will not take moral victories too seriously, but giving the defending champions a legitimate game despite missing four starters is something they should be proud of.
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