Doc Rivers Says NBA MVP Race ‘Is Over’ After Embiid’s 52-Point Outing

The 76ers coach is convinced his superstar is the league’s best player.

Joel Embiid’s performance on Tuesday night against the Celtics only strengthened the dominant big man’s grip on the 2023 NBA MVP award.

Embiid led the way scoring a game-high 52 points in the 76ers' 103–101 victory. The seventh-year center filled up the stat sheet, grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out six assists.

The explosive outing was good enough for Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers to declare there is doubt who the best player in the league is this season.

“The MVP race is over,” Rivers said at the podium after the game. “The man just scored half our points in an NBA game. And I’m biased, but the MVP race is over.”

• Get your seats to Philadelphia 76ers games with SI Tickets

"The MVP races is over."

Doc Rivers with some strong praise for Joel Embiid after his 52-point performance against the Celtics 👀

(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/sQwxmIQM7M

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 5, 2023

The dominant performance was Embiid’s third 50-point game this season. Previously, the six-time NBA All-Star poured in 59 points against Utah back on Nov. 13 and torched the Hornets for 53 on Dec. 11.

With only three games remaining in the regular season, sportsbooks are in agreement with Rivers, as late Tuesday night oddsmakers moved Embiid to a prohibitive -550 favorite over Denver’s Nikola Jokic (+600) and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (+750).