The Spectacular Showdown became a Languid Letdown.

In conclusion, the 5,280ers bounced the 38ers from The Ball Saturday.

However, it was not a pretty sight.

This Denver team would beat That Philadelphia team in the NBA Finals, but barely. The Nuggets acted like The Exhausted Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Free Throws Straight (making only 24 of 38), and the Chick-Phil-A’s put the Junior Varsity on the court because their three talented starting players did not participate.

So, the heavily heralded-and-hyped Deja View 2 Saturday matinee on ABC was a lot of XYZzzz’s before the Nuggets escaped in the last minute. “We never had an easy game since I got here,’’ Nikola Jokic said.

After reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid stretched in pregame warmups several feet away from the gigantic “5280’’ logo at midcourt that signifies Denver’s elevation, the Philadelphia medical and training staff determined he shouldn’t play with “knee soreness.’’

Indeed, what else is new, Embiid? He has not played in Denver since 2019 and only twice since he came into the league in 2014.

If the Nuggets and the 76ers, 1-1 and over for the regular season, were to confront in the NBA Finals, and the Nugs have a better record, they would repeat as world champions — because Embiid won’t ever appear here in four games.

He suffers from tender Denveritis.

Joel did land awkwardly in the game with the Pacers Thursday night — and grabbed his left knee. He continued until leaving after 31 minutes and 30 points. He was not on the injury report earlier Sunday. The 76ers also were without Tyrese Maxey with a left ankle sprain and Tobias Harris, who was sick. Philadelphia also is missing four other reserves with health or personal reasons.

Yet, the Nuggets had three starters listed probable. Jokic was poked in the eye in the last road game against the Knicks and again Saturday; Jamal Murray has a shin issue and Aaron Gordon a shoulder flare-up. Each played more than 30 minutes, and they combined with Michael Porter Jr. for 87 points and 31 rebounds. Jokic finished with 26 and 16, and seven assists.

But they were outplayed by three guys who’ve started a total of 13 games this season.

The Nuggets looked like they were in a milk bath. An Eastern five-game trip, which produced three victories and losses at the beginning and end to the 76ers (with Embiid, of course) and the new New York Knicks, seemed to have consumed the Nuggets’ energy. They scored early and often, but obviously weren’t interested in defense.

The benches of both scored 16 points, and that’s a confounding conundrum for the Nuggets.

They can’t call out the reserves.

If the Nuggets don’t make a significant trade before the deadline Feb. 8, the franchise has no chance at back-to-back titles. The two T’s — Timberwolves and Thunder — aren’t going awry and away, and the Clippers, who have been the best in the West since a miserable start, soon will pass the Nuggets if they don’t do anything. The Nuggets may be a four-place team and get one series advantage.

The Nuggets have the five failures in Zeke Nnaji, Justin Holiday, Hunter Tyson, Jalen Pickett and Jay Huff, who are the garbage-time team. Julian Strawther, who stood out in a couple of moments this season, remains sidelined with a knee contusion, and who knows?

The primary four off the sideline — Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Deandre Jordan — come and go, and are mostly minute men who only occasionally help. Watson promised more, and Braun has produced less. Jordan is 2,000 years old, and Jackson usually is the only dependable backup.

Unfortunately, the Nuggets can’t get Bruce Brown back, even though he will be moved by the Raptors, who just acquired the veteran with the big salary now. Nuggets GM Calvin Booth should try to make a run at him, although the Nuggets must not trade their starters and do not have much else to offer except future No. 1 draft picks. They own their own in 2024, 2026 and 2028. This is the time to let them go and get a veteran of the Bruce Brown ilk.

Otherwise, the Nuggets will not confront Embiid or anyone else in the Finals.

Woody Paige has been a sports and general columnist in Colorado with the Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, The Colorado Springs Gazette and The Denver Gazette since 1974. He has been a commentator for the ESPN network on six different shows for 20 years. woody.paige@gazettedev.gazette.com

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray gets ready to throw up a backwards shot under the basket before being fouled by Sixers guard Danuel House Jr. during the third quarter of a game at Ball Arena on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. The Nuggets won the game 111-106. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)