The Philadelphia 76ers are in the middle of a division race with the Boston Celtics. Simultaneously, Sixers big man Joel Embiid is trying to make his case for league MVP. On Tuesday night, Embiid posted yet another stellar performance. He scored 45 points and ripped down 13 rebounds in a 131-122 win against the Indiana Pacers. In doing so, he joined some truly elite company.

Since the ABA, NBA merger, only Moses Malone in 1982 and Russell Westbrook in 2017 have posted as many 40-point, 10-plus rebound games in a single season. Both Malone and Westbrook went on to win the NBA MVP award in those respective seasons.

This year's MVP race is a three-way heat with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, former league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Sixers' superstar Embiid. Embiid is the only one yet to win the award, but is arguably having the best season of the bunch.

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The Sixers big man is leading the NBA in scoring this season at just over 30 points per game. If he continues to lead the league, he will become the first center since Shaquille O'Neal to win the scoring title. He would also be the first international born player to ever win the scoring title.

No center since the NBA merger has ever finished a season averaging over 30 points per game. Clearly, what the superstar in Philadelphia is doing is quite remarkable. With both Jokic and Antetokounmpo both having excellent years also, it's anyone's guess who take home the award. It very well might come down to the Sixers' ability to win the Atlantic Division.