James Harden Declares SIxers Teammate Joel Embiid MVP After His Game Winner vs. Blazers

• James Harden has said Joel Embiid is the MVP of the league after hitting the game-winner against the Portland Trail Blazers
• The Philadelphia 76ers center is having a phenomenal season and is in the MVP race as the 2022/23 season enters the homestretch
• The 28-year-old finished second in the MVP race in the last two seasons, both won by Denver Nuggets center Nikol Jokic

Joel Embiid produced an outstanding performance to help the Philadelphia 76ers erase a 21-point deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers. The Cameroon center hit the game-winner to secure Sixers' fourth win in a row.

Embiid's teammate James Harden has said the game-winner makes the big man the MVP of the NBA.

The 28-year-old finished second to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the MVP race in the last two seasons. However, he's hoping to scoop the elusive award this season.

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The Nuggets center is still the favorite to win his third MVP award, but with his game-winner against the Blazers could persuade voters to think twice.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers has a simple plan in the dying seconds of their game against the Blazers. They were down one, and he decided to give the ball to his best player. He delivered, knocking down a fadeaway jumper to seal a 120-119 win, per CBS Sports.

Harden backs Embiid MVP case

After the game, 2018 MVP James Harden praised Embiid.

“That’s why he’s the MVP of the league. Don’t run to the ball, and give Joel as much space as he needs to create a shot. Most likely, if he got a shot up, it was going in. I just tried to run up, give him space, get to the dunker, and he took the shot, and he made it,” via SI.

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Embiid's big shot was the Sixers' first lead of the game. The six-time All-Star finished with 39 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. He now averages 33.3 points per game in the NBA, the best in the league.

Embiid is a scoring machine

Sports Brief recently reported on Embiid becoming the fastest player in Sixers' history to reach 10,000 career points.

He eclipsed that mark in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 29 points in 39 minutes of action.

Embiid accomplished that feat in 373 games, passing Philadelphia legend Iverson for the fewest games to reach that mark.