Tuesday night, Joel Embiid grabbed center stage as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Denver Nuggets, the reigning NBA champions, 126-121 after a fierce battle. His incredible, game-changing performance included ten assists, seven rebounds, and 41 points in a much-awaited matchup with Nikola Jokic.
However, Embiid did not accomplish Philly’s significant win on his own. With one assist, Tyrese Maxey was on the verge of a double-double, while Tobias Harris scored 24 points on 8 of 10 shots from the field. Furthermore, there is a 76ers player who may be going unnoticed.
ESPN analyst and 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins made sure to highlight the team’s unsung hero. “During the game, \Nicolas} Batum don’t get talked about enough!” he wrote on X. “He adds so much to the squad that isn’t shown on the stat sheet. Every contender needs a player with Batum’s level of selflessness! Continue on.
Despite finishing with a meager eight points on three of four shots and four rebounds in 35 minutes, the 35-year-old forward’s resilient defense and grit were what brought forth powerful responses like the one from Perkins. Most famously, he stopped a drive by Jamal Murray in the latter part of the fourth quarter and earned a monster block (one of two). Batum even paused for a few moments to enjoy the incredible play.
Despite being far off from his peak, the 16-year veteran’s efficiency, defensive prowess, and underappreciated passing still have an impact on games. Although Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are undoubtedly important to the 76ers’ chances of winning the NBA this season, players like Nicolas Batum are frequently the game-changing element in postseason series.
The Frenchman made a big impact against the Nuggets and will be a player to keep an eye on during this crucial campaign for Philadelphia.
