Jalen Pickett delivered the best scoring night of his career as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers 125-124 in overtime Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Pickett finished with 29 points and seven assists, anchoring a depleted Denver lineup that had only nine available players. The guard carried much of the offensive load across 42 minutes in a game that swung repeatedly late.
Bruce Brown scored 19 points and supplied the decisive basket in overtime. His driving layup with 5.3 seconds remaining was ruled goaltending on Joel Embiid, giving Denver the winning points.
Philadelphia had one final chance, but Tyrese Maxey missed a floater at the buzzer. The loss dropped the 76ers to 19-15 after returning from a 3-2 road trip.
Embiid led all scorers with 32 points and added 10 rebounds, marking the fourth time in his last eight games he reached the 30-point mark. Maxey contributed 28 points and six assists, but Philadelphia could not close the door late.
Denver entered the night missing Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and several rotation players. Jokic is expected to be sidelined until at least the end of the month with a hyperextended left knee.
Despite the absences, the Nuggets refused to slow the pace. Peyton Watson added 24 points and seven rebounds, while the visitors shot 53 percent from the field and 49 percent from three-point range.
Denver’s rally began late in the fourth quarter after trailing most of the half. Hunter Tyson sparked a 14-0 run with a four-point play that put the Nuggets ahead 102-100.
Pickett followed with a short jumper that forced a Philadelphia timeout and shifted momentum. Brown later snapped a tie with a three-pointer and drew a foul on another attempt, making two of three free throws for a 120-115 lead.
That missed free throw proved costly in regulation. VJ Edgecombe hit a three to pull the 76ers within two, and Maxey tied the game on a driving layup with 49 seconds left.
Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in the draft, continued his strong rookie season with 17 points and nine assists. His dunk in overtime briefly gave Philadelphia its final lead.
The Nuggets answered immediately. Brown attacked the rim on the ensuing possession, and Embiid was whistled for goaltending as he attempted to block the shot.
Denver finished the night with 26 assists and committed just 17 turnovers despite the shortened rotation. Philadelphia shot 47 percent but left opportunities at the line and on late possessions.
The Nuggets travel to Boston on Wednesday night. The 76ers remain home to host Washington.
