Will Joel Embiid face off against Nikola Jokic tonight? Big update on the MVP frontrunner's status

The NBA MVP race has been close between Joel Embiid and Nikol Jokic, with both All-Star centers playing high-level basketball the past two months.

However, fans won't be able to watch a much-anticipated head-to-head meeting Monday night, when the Philadelphia 76ers (49-25) play the Denver Nuggets (50-24). ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported that Embiid will not play because of a calf injury.

"What a bummer," Kevin O'Connor from The Ringer responded.

Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are head-to-head in the MVP race, and the match-up could possibly have been a deciding factor in who wins the award.

Health seems to be the priority for the 76ers (49-25) as the regular season is down to its final stretch of games . They are also monitoring James Harden's injury, in addition to Joel Embiid's situation heading into the playoffs.

Joel Embiid became the MVP frontrunner to many as he was crucial in leading the Philadelphia 76ers to an eight-game winning streak. The team has also won seven of its last 10 games.