Either regular-season play matters (and Embiid's MVP season in 2022-23 should get its due respect), or it's all about the playoffs.
But, you can't have it both ways.
Tuesday's game between the Denver Nuggets and Sixers in Philadelphia was billed as a matchup between the reigning MVP and the runner-up.
The real duel took place on the sidelines.
Joel Embiid scored 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assets, three steams and two blocks in 38 minutes in his last meeting against two-time MVP Nikola Jokić.