Nikola Jokic has praise for unexpected Sixers player

Joel Embiid was absent for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. The reigning MVP has now missed the past five games on Nikola Jokic's home turf. Paul Reed was tasked with filling Embiid shoes. As such, Reed had the unenviable task of matching up with Jokic throughout the night.

Denver secured a 111-105 win over Nick Nurse's team. However, during his postgame news conference, Jokic took a moment to praise Reed for his performance throughout the game.

"We don’t need to talk about Joel Embiid, not just because he didn’t play, but because I think Paul Reed played really good for them and we need to give him credit," Jokic said. "He was fighting, he attacked the glass, he shot the ball really well. I think he deserves, in this moment, more time than Joel.”

Reed, 24, had his best performance of the season. He ended the game with 30 points, 13 rebounds, one assist and two steals, shooting 66.7% from the field and 50% from three-point range. In a game where the Sixers were missing their best player, Reed stepped up in a big way. 

For Sixers fans, Reed's performance wouldn't have been a shock. They're used to the rim-running big man finding ways to impact the game. However, it's doubtful anybody expected the second-string big man to register a career-high in points against the current NBA champions. 

Jokic isn't one to hand out praise easily. Especially when that praise is for an opposing team's player. However, Reed stepped up in tough circumstances and played to the best of his ability. Philadelphia will feel confident that their backup big man is capable of producing at a high level. 

Considering Embiid's injury history and the franchise's hopes of making a deep playoff run, Reed's presence on the bench will be a considerable comfort.