The two winners of the NBA's last three MVP awards will be in Philadelphia when Joel Embiid's 76ers host Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets on Tuesday.
With the Sixers in the Eastern Conference, fans only get two regular-season opportunities to see Embiid, the reigning MVP, go against his MVP predecessor, Jokic. The two are again MVP candidates and Tuesday's meeting could be an opportunity to make a big statement at the season's midway point.
While there is growing anticipation for the matchup of MVP centers, it is not clear whether or not they'll both suit up. Here is what we know about the statuses of Embiid and Jokic for Tuesday's game.
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Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Nuggets tonight?
Embiid is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday night's game. He is expected to play barring a last-minute change.
On Monday, Embiid returned to action after missing three consecutive games due to issues with his left knee. Factor in an ankle injury from December, and Embiid has missed seven of Philadelphia's last 10 games.
In Monday's win over the Rockets, Embiid finished with 41 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Embiid last played on both ends of a back-to-back on Dec. 15 and 16, but it is worth noting that Monday's game tipped off at 1 p.m. ET, giving Embiid more time to recover ahead of Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
Check back for more updates on Embiid's status as they become available.
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Is Nikola Jokic playing vs. 76ers tonight?
Jokic is listed as probable with a strained left hip, per the NBA's official injury report.
Jokic has played in 40 of Denver's first 41 games this season. On Sunday, he finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists while seeing 33 minutes of action in a win over the Pacers.
After playing in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Nuggets will be idle until Friday, when they face the Celtics in a major showdown at the TD Garden.
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What channel is 76ers vs. Nuggets on tonight?
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: Sling TV
76ers vs. Nuggets will air nationally on TNT.
Viewers who wish to stream the game can also watch on Sling TV, which is the home for avid sports fans offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
76ers vs. Nuggets start time
- Date: Tuesday, Jan. 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. MST
76ers vs. Nuggets will tip shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. MST). The game will be played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 76ers schedule 2023-24
Here are the 76ers' next five games:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Jan. 16 | vs. Nuggets | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Jan. 19 | at Magic | 7 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 20 | at Hornets | 7 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 22 | vs. Spurs | 7 pm. | NBA TV |
| Jan. 25 | at Pacers | 7 p.m. | — |
Denver Nuggets schedule 2023-24
Here are the Nuggets' next five games:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Jan. 16 | at 76ers | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Jan. 19 | at Celtics | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 21 | at Wizards | 6 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 23 | at Pacers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 25 | at Knicks | 7:30 p.m. | — |
