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Dario Saric making case to supplant Embiid as rookie of year

MIAMI - Dario Saric is giving voters something to think about. A month ago, Saric's 76ers teammate, Joel Embiid, was a lock to be named the NBA's rookie of the year. However, his inactivity combined with Saric's emergence could have even the staunchest Embiid supporters reevaluating things.

MIAMI - Dario Saric is giving voters something to think about.

A month ago, Saric's 76ers teammate, Joel Embiid, was a lock to be named the NBA's rookie of the year. However, his inactivity combined with Saric's emergence could have even the staunchest Embiid supporters reevaluating things.

Saric paced the Sixers with 21 points and seven assists and added seven rebounds Monday night in a 119-108 loss to the Golden State Warriors at the Wells Fargo Center. It was his eighth straight game with 18 or more points. In five of those games, he scored at least 20.

"I love Dario," coach Brett Brown said after the game.

There's a lot to love lately.

The power forward is averaging 20.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists since Feb. 8. He has a total of seven games this season with 20 or more points. Embiid, with 19, is the league's only rookie with more.

Saric has also finished with at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists on five occasions. Milwaukee Bucks point guard Malcolm Brogdon, with seven, is the only rookie with more.

Yet Saric's ruggedness is one of the things that stands out the most. He's the only Sixer who has played in all 59 games this season.

On Monday, Saric was aggressive and physical against the likes of the Warriors' Draymond Green and David West.

"I always try to play 100 percent every game," said Saric, who is averaging 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for the season. "I try to play the best against my man who is guarding me. Sometimes I try to play physical; you can't just play physical against a team like that, you have to play good defense, try to get rebounds, and push the ball on them."

Embiid, meanwhile, has not been able to play at all in more than a month. He is out indefinitely with swelling and soreness in his left knee.

The center has missed 14 consecutive games and 17 of 18 after suffering a bone bruise Jan. 20. A subsequent MRI exam revealed that he also has a slightly torn meniscus.

If Embiid does not return this season, he will have played in only 31 games because of rest and/or injuries.

Yet Embiid has been playing at an all-star level when healthy. He is averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.1 assists. He was the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for October/November, December, and January. Embiid was also the conference player of the week for the week of Jan. 16-22.

So it will be interesting to see how the media's rookie-of-the-year voting at the conclusion of the season ends up.

kpompey@phillynews.com

@PompeyOnSixers

www.philly.com/sixersblog