The Best Of The 2022-2023 NBA #KiaMVP Award Finalists!

In a starting role tonight, Embiid, shake and bake. Searching for their shot, haven't been able to find it just yet. Embiid running the floor, Harden finds him. Good job of James rebounding too, down the other end. And Joel throws it up, looking at the rim and gets it to go. One more time in transition, Joel up ahead, James finding him and then watch this, takes his time. Ooh, a little shimmy and then, I think I know where the rim is, so I'm just going to throw it up. I love Karis Leverts' game. When he's got the jumper working because he walks off the bounce game, look out. Embiid speeds, forces and finishes. Said you were closing like Usain Bolt on the MVP. Double team is solid, doesn't matter. I said he plays with a little more physicality. No whistle, let me just put it in a bucket. Okay, what guy at that size? Nassie gets knocked to the floor, no whistle. In it comes to Joel, Nurkic on him, five seconds to go. There you go. Embiid driving, spinning, fading, hit it! Six of nine on threes for Harden. Beats the rim, exploding. You almost cannot believe what you're seeing. Oh my God. This is unbelievable. Look how hard both of them are. Wow. Remember we said Embiid missed 12 games, Harden 16, Maxey 19, and they're only one game on the lost side behind Boston. Oh, Embiid smashes the rim. It's been absolutely beautiful to watch. He's shown you his dribble game all night long, the power game down inside. He'll take the hits and he'll get to the line, but also the rebounding tonight by him has just been out of sight. He already has 16 boards in his game. Can he lead this team? And he doesn't put too much stress on, you know, his injury. And he gets hurt again. Tower, intercepts, blocked by Embiid. I know this is only the second quarter, but game-winning plays. Joel Embiid could have easily just laid back in the backcourt and not went after this. But when your leader does this on the defensive end. Ward it off. Not close to backcourt. I thought the same thing. Here's Embiid. Drop pass by Harden and the flush over the top by Joel Embiid. So Embiid at the line to see if he can tie up this ball game. Embiid now with 27, matching LeBron James. 12 seconds. The ball's in the hands of Harden. Embiid takes it, drives, step-back Jay. Got it. Utah. Plenty of time. 4.9 to play. Volleyball blocked by Gilgis Alexander. Got to stop the ball here. That is behind the back. Oh, my goodness. He's going to dunk that, too. That's what makes it even more spectacular. Now for Joel. Trying to post up early. Yep. Good look. What a tip pass out to first three in the game. Ford is in front of you here. Free to shoot. P.J. does just that. Ford, no. Matthews, the offensive rebound. Joel, no contempt. Olenek, another rebound. Quickly ahead. Three on one. Sexton. Blocked. Watch this. Chasing down Sexton. Ball never even left Sexton's hand. Great timing from the big fella. Harris off the heel. Get into it quickly here. Horford ahead for Wipe. Oh. Gummed by Embiid. It's a great effort by Embiid. P.J. Tucker on the floor. That's where the man is coming from that allows them to leave him with some more space. Embiid. Active shot. 14, LeBron. LeBron at the upper 13. Paul George starting this second half in place of LeBron. Elton resets. Embiid, little fake, a drive. 25. We know from what we saw last year that they can easily re-find it. Nice play by Harris to tip it to Embiid. Here comes Harden. Behind the back. Embiid. Nasty. And a turnover. James Howard. This rejection. Sprays it out. Making two threes against the Rockets up in Milwaukee as he scored those 44 points in 27 and a half minutes. Here come the Bucs again in transition. Wow. Comparisons with Crowder. If there's any. Oh, Giannis. Thompson gets it off in time. No, and there's Giannis. Uh-oh. He's on the push. And he throws it down. Coach. From three-point territory. Isolated look from the top of the key. Giannis onto Tecumpeh. Oh, my goodness. He's already on the launch pad right now. Too late. Wow. Look at that reach. He's got three fouls that he picked up in the first half. So, you don't need him to pick up another. Giannis with the back down. Giannis. He sunk it. Got a load to unload right here. He gets to his spot. Watch him load up there. And then just that quick two-foot jump. And he gets up so high so quickly. He just catches. He catches. This is like 6'9", 6'10", McDaniels. To Porzingis. Eight points here to begin with. Giannis with the take. Uh-oh. Look out. Grayson Allen pushing it. Giannis. Taking your prank. This is what you see. He raises up and he palms that ball like that. Credit to Grayson who knew exactly who was behind him. You saw him glance behind him. And what a great job. What great awareness. What? Oh, my goodness. When you choose to turn it up, ratchet it up, especially at the defensive end. So perhaps building momentum in the second half. Yeah. I mean, so you look for this team's effort and energy to pick up. Giannis. Count the bucket. Slow to get up. Grabbing that right hip. Giannis asking for the screen. Big to big. He keeps it. Goes to the spin. Elevates. That can happen. Nembhard from mid-range. Brooke trying to tip it back out. Gets it to the hands here of Giannis. He's now got 13 rebounds. Head leading the break. Hesitation move. Straight away. It can't stop him. The force. The strength. The aggression. Giannis with the double tees. Takes all of that. Over to Giannis. None whips it away. Off to the races. Giannis with the chase. Racing up the floor. Westbrook drives inside. Back to down. Remember that one, Luca. To get him out of there. Oh, Giannis. And the stare down. Pass. What a finish. It has coincided with more paint touches for Joel Embiid. Oh, nice move by Giannis with the flush. On Yeka Okonwu. Been watching him play since he was a freshman in high school. Chino Hills with the ball. Brothers. Giannis. Just see there. Goodness. Number two. But between his legs. Right through the wicket. That's an unbelievable pass. Here's the thing. Jokic saw this play before he even caught the ball. So, it was just a matter of delivery. Over the top goes Fontecchio. Nuggets come away. They get a long pass to Jokic. Behind the back to Porter. Nicely done. Great save by Jokic. Maybe that will get the Nuggets going. How about this pass by Nikola Jokic? Another look behind the back. And a Porter conversion. Nuggets trail by five. Just over five minutes to play in the third. Two-man game. Got to go. Here to Jokic. Jokic backs up for the win. Nikola Jokic, easier to defend. Benny Smith is everywhere. Jokic, another rebound. Ahead to Brown. Triple-double. You are kidding with the delivery on this pass. Nikola Jokic, instant turn. Knows Christian Brown can see him out of the corner of his eye. He might have an advantage if he takes off sprinting. That's exactly what he does. Right over the fingertips. Delivered perfectly to Christian Brown. McKermott's season high is 23. But why not? Here's Joker again. Over the fingertips. Hops down a floater. Sixth assist for Jokic. Jamal Murray has 17. Jokic finishes the first half with 21-7. They close out. Good defense. Jokic, the rebound. He's got Brown out there. Touchdown, Nuggets. Ingram steps into a contested three over Gordon. McCollum trying to save. Here comes Jokic. Pick and roll, hard roll. That's where Brian heard him the other game. That was Brian at 29 Saturday at Sacramento. And that's the 101st dunk. Same thing. Spin backwards. Look at all the bodies come over there. Chrissy losing. Toscano-Anderson loses. Side of Gordon. The only person that didn't was the person that mattered, and that was Nicole. 22 games now where he's been in double figures. Good player. Jokic coming in. Over the shoulder to Gordon. What a beauty. Jones winning that one. Now, if we had the highlight of your dunk, we would have a fulfilling one. He's putting on a show. Kispert, turn, shoot, short. Another rebound. Jokic has a double-double. He's 18th. Oh, no. What a pass. KCP, a slider from midcourt. Running in transition. Look at KCP. What an angle on that pass from Nicole Jokic. Perfectly delivered. He was expecting. Jeff Green is in the corner. Way, way short. Pass to Jokic. Collects it behind the back. And in a bad pass, he runs it down, and then behind his back, right perfect to Brown again. I mean, that's a – first of all, just to be able to catch the ball. Most centers aren't even catching that ball. That's going out of bounds. KC's defense pretty tight here. Jokic, hook pass. Under to Gordon. He ties it up at 120. Oh, Jokic. Return to base. Jokic. Underneath the corner. Puts it in there. Very efficient night for Denver. 60% from the floor so far. Look at how hard Murray runs to the wing to get it from Jokic. Just an all-around struggle again for the Lakers, and I hate to keep harping on it, but I'm going to harp. This team is not a great three-point shooting team, but Nikola Jokic is a great passer. Jeff Green, great off-ball movement cut. Got to get Jokic going, but they're doubling him every time. Cross-court swing, and KCP. It's going to be a four-point opportunity. Maxey to Tucker, play catch. Now it's just 15-23 on the road as Embiid throws one down, and he grimaces as he goes up the floor after landing. Shot clock at five. Embiid handing off to Maxey. Thought about turning the corner, but Vucic was there. Joel spinning his way to the top. Embiid from the free-throw line. A little reach in by Ty. Just unable to convert after initially they were hot. Great slot cut from McDaniels. Good find from Sheik Embiid there for the put-back jam. Jeremy with the ball on the floor, creating something out of nothing. Embiid spinning and throwing it down. The defense of DeAnthony not fouling on that drive, but challenging that grand attempt. Mountain back to Embiid. Joel Embiid throws it down. We love Matisse. We wish him all the best in Portland. But teams just weren't guarding him. Yeah, I think at times you need a little bit more offense. Embiid right downstream with a two-handed rip-rocker. Embiid with the fake and the drive, and we got another foul. This one's good. And the three-point chance for Joel Embiid. Claxton says, I've got an advantage in speed. Even in my second jump, I'm going to go take advantage. But they gave Philly another point. And now Embiid gets it up. He's a pro. Knowing also, too, that he would be in the clutch time minutes. And that's the look out. Embiid throws it down. He hits double figures. Harden running the show here for Philly. Returning. Embiid out high. George draws the assignment. 10 to shoot. He's trying to bully him. He does. Back shot, good, and a foul. So, a little run here for L.A. They're looking for one more stop before the end of the half. Embiid, the fly-by. Buzzer! Joel Embiid bottoms. Got Joel with the front. Didn't get it to him. Spins away and throws it down. Ten-point game. C.J. is up to 28 points. And now 8 of 12. I'm telling you, it's too much time and that's too much space. Can't let him. About midway through the second. Harden leads Embiid, lays it in. Plus the foul. We'll see if that gets Joel Embiid going. To be melting to Embiid at the nail. Goes left on Porzingis. Wow. Tough bucket. That is tough. At times late in the clock to switch it and hold Embiid off. Embiid, count it, and the foul. Joel Embiid, a chance for a three-point play. Throwing jerseys down to him. Just really cool. I wonder if that happens in every arena. I wonder. Joel spinning with the shot clock about to expire. And hitting nothing but net. Lumley guarding Embiid. Joel, bully ball. Count it. And he'll head to the line. Three-point shooter. George Miang is in for the Sixers. Look at all that room he's got. Where does the help come from? No help coming. Go to work. That's what he does. Bully ball. Embiid. That play. Next play. Now leading all scores with 13. There you go. Embiid puts it down with enthusiasm. Dare them to stop. Sensing some swag back to Joel. Jay hands off to Embiid from way outside. Embiid has Gobert. Lays it up and in. 32 for Embiid. 137 to go. Joel goes right and Kaminsky. Spinning, fading, hitting. 14 in this first quarter. Pitch back shovel pass was going to Joel Engels. He was inactive in the last game on Friday. A non-COVID illness. Giannis looks like he's got his groove going. Show that level of athleticism at his size. Let him stay with it. Get his butt on the floor and make that play. Giannis. 6 points. Give him another. With over 17% of their possession starting in transition. So, that's a good thing. That means you don't have to face half court offense nearly as much. Half court defense, excuse me. I think these are good looks though. Yeah. They're quality looks. You've got to take them. You've got to continue to attack. But you've got to focus on this end right here. So, there's a little bit of a difference in the type of shot selection. But phenomenal. And you know Mike Brown, he just called that time out. 15-2 run for Philadelphia. Holiday into the front court. Giannis against Reed facing up. Left hand, got it in. The developing gets familiar for players 6, 7, and 8 in your rotations. Because both of these teams will be in the playoffs at a big time. What a gorgeous move by Adetokounmpo. I like this right there. On the attack. Adetokounmpo couldn't finish. Yeah, I'm questionable whether I thought he got hit on that. Giannis with a step through on the layup. Connaughton with the ball. And the cutting and slashing out of Adetokounmpo. Off the place for two. This one remains close. Last six games for the Heat decided by five points or less. So, they've been here before. Chris up to Giannis. Oh, that's fun. And then there was some help around him. And it did not bother him enough. That is what you can't do. Here is a turnover leading to a Giannis run out. Hops to the glass. Puts it off the window. Goes to get it and don'ts. As we always say, that's just going to wake Pat up. He might knock down another point or three. Up that level of intensity. Get the ball off the floor quickly. Will Pat make it three? Possession alive. It's usually all bottom or just a crazy break off the backboard. And Giannis just muscles his way in. Count the bucket and the foul. Bucs trailed by 15. Now on an 11-0 run the last three minutes. And make it 13-0. A two-handed jam. First field goal there for the Bucs in a 3-0 edge. Drew Holliday finding that. His first slam dunk. You're not good enough. You can't do it. You're not going to be able to keep maintaining it. Well, he's in his eighth year. And Giannis will bring it into the frontcourt for the Bucs. Milwaukee comes in tonight. 24-13, third in the east. And that guy playing at an MVP level. Joe whips it over to Bobby Portis. Back to Joe Ingles. That was the same spot. Not the same result, unfortunately, Giannis. And across the country on NBA League Pass. One of the premier games of the night as Giannis Adetokounmpo spins inside. Misses the first time. Gets it back. Draws a foul. Puts it up and in. And Giannis has a chance for the three-point play. It's a 20-plus point quarter. So, just shot the lights out against the Bucs over the eight years that I've been here. So, it feels real comfortable playing against Milwaukee. And now there's that finger roll finish for Giannis. And he's got double figures now with ten points. Adetokounmpo counting. Has to play here in the first half. Hesitation. Giannis and one. Tried to quickly bring the Bucs back into it. Second time Giannis has broken up that lob play. And Giannis, the A-train. Foul! Mitchell hit the 16 in the first quarter. He finished with 23. Giannis! Conaton. Lines up that three-pointer. That won't go. Adetokounmpo, the rebound. Back up and throws it down with a left hand. Talk about a tenacious work ethic. Hell-bent. Steadfast now. That was a good rebound. The three-ball and free-throw shooting is going to be key here in the third and the fourth quarter. Both teams shoot at about 20%. Give and go. Jokic has it. He's got a lane. Give it to Bruce Brown. And Brown slides it up and in. And there it is. The tenth assist for Nikola Jokic. Brunson. He's now got 18. Down the middle to Jokic. Basket counts. Foul. Robinson can't believe it. And on the weak side, Jokic tipped it in accidentally. Yeah, Jokic trying to keep away from Weiss but tipped it in. 8-6. Jokic had the lead. And Gordon again. 16-55 Denver. Noel misses. Another rebound for Jokic. Jokic has a double-double. 17-11. Into Gordon who scores! And the Nuggets are pummeling the Nets at the moment. Good entry pass. Not a good entry pass. I would say a great entry pass by Michael Porter Jr. Already with 18 points. Humpfake puts it up. No! Put it up. No! From three. Now corner three is on the way. And that's what you want to get. What the Toronto Raptors doing. Firing some three-pointers. Jokic. Step it off. He drops it home. Head O's on a swivel. Bounce. It's brilliant! And Murray dunks it in there and a foul. Jokic. Patient. Draws three. Still takes. And floats it in! Grizzlies seven games below .500 on the road. Denver, they're only one game above .500 on the road. A hook and a hit. And a foul. Jokic, a three-point chance. They don't have a lot of guys that put pressure by getting downhill, getting into the paint. And as we saw Friday night, he can make a lot of plays out of that. Speaking of making plays. Jokic with the beautiful dime to Porter Jr. Porter Jr. on the pickup. Jokic backing down and scoring. Jaron goes down. Crowd wanted a foul. No air and a whistle. In those commercials, so. 51-49. Jokic inside. Got it. Nice play, Nikola Jokic. Over to Vlatko. Nuggets by nine here. Jokic on the run. Jokic on the move. And he puts it away. Really calm yourself down a little bit. Work to get out great offensive possessions. Nuggets have an opportunity here. Gordon's on the wing. Give it to Jokic. Down the middle. He goes and he throws it down. Mellow ball. That's no good. And rebounded by Vlatko Chancho. Hortons are the worst three-point shooting team in the league at 32%. Great pass. Nice catch. And the lay-in by Vlatko Chancho. 14-point lead now for Orlando. Nuggets' offense has just gone completely dry. Jokic in the lane. And Gordon with the dunk. And they're going to count the basket. That's one of the great flops you will ever see in the NBA. The throw point's already tonight. And Jokic banging his way into the key. Not great. One shoot. That's good. And another foul. So the Nuggets are getting some traditional three-point opportunities. KCP. A little bit too much. Jokic. Dropping defense. Jokic. Another great dime. Wow. That fooled the defense. And Bruce Brown underneath gets the easy two. Four and a half remaining here in the first half. Jokic. Having his way. Orlando hasn't made a field goal since the 7-0-9 mark. Jokic has it. Give it to Bones. Bones. And he puts it in. Jokic. Another brilliant assist. Put it right on the hand. Denver scores the second most points per game in the NBA. Great white west. Now Gordon's got it. Gordon under to Jokic. Great pass. And Jokic. Another three-point opportunity here. So the Nuggets figuring it out slowly but surely. Jokic in the lane. There's the shooting. Red hot. Scorching hot. Jokic. Three-pointer. Yes! Bounce pass to Porter. And Porter lays it up. What a beautiful pass by Jokic. Off the bounce. You can feel the momentum changing a little bit here. Jokic on the move. Guarded by Holmes. Jokic backing in. Jokic slow rolls it. And the Joker is working on Reshawn Holmes.