Nuggets edge 76ers in OT, 125-124

Bruce Brown delivered the decisive play in overtime, scoring 19 points and finishing a go-ahead layup that was ruled goaltending against Joel Embiid with 5.3 seconds remaining, lifting the short-handed Denver Nuggets to a 125-124 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Jalen Pickett led Denver with a career-high 29 points, while Peyton Watson added 24 as the Nuggets prevailed despite sitting their entire regular starting lineup. Denver was without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and several others, leaving the Nuggets with just nine available players a night after a loss in Brooklyn. Embiid finished with 32 points, his fourth 30-point performance in his last eight games, and Tyrese Maxey added 28 for Philadelphia.

Denver refused to wilt despite its depleted roster, mounting a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter highlighted by Hunter Tyson’s four-point play that put the Nuggets ahead 102-100. Pickett followed with a short jumper that forced a Philadelphia timeout and kept Denver in control. Brown later buried a 3-pointer to break a tie and converted two of three free throws after being fouled on another attempt from deep, giving the Nuggets a 120-115 lead. That missed free throw proved costly, as the Sixers rallied late to force overtime.

VJ Edgecombe knocked down a 3-pointer to pull Philadelphia within two, and Maxey tied the game on a driving layup with 49 seconds left to send it to overtime. Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick enjoying a strong rookie season, briefly put the Sixers ahead in OT with a dunk before Brown’s drive to the rim was met by Embiid and ruled goaltending. Maxey’s final floater at the buzzer came up short.

Denver continues its road trip Wednesday in Boston, while Philadelphia hosts Washington.