The Denver Nuggets matched up against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night in a tough situation. Down seven players, with five of them being opening night starters and the other two key bench players, all the odds favored the 76ers to defend home court and walk away with a win.

However, that wasn't the case, as the Nuggets pulled off an improbable overtime victory, defeating the 76ers 125-124. It was yet another strong performance from Peyton Watson, who has earned himself a solid payday this offseason with his continued play. But the star of the game was Jalen Pickett, who popped off for a career night.

Pickett showed flashes last year when Denver wasn't playing starters, such as his triple-double performance against the San Antonio Spurs on April 2nd, 2025. However, this wasn't just a meaningless regular season game, and Pickett proved he deserves a spot in the rotation.

After pouring in 29 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in 42 minutes, head coach David Adelman was proud of what he saw from his starting guard.

"I mean, he just went into his zone. I mean, the step back threes, it was something...Jalen had a night you'll never forget. He was just absolutely in control of this basketball game. With all those great players in that court, he was the guy tonight," Adelman said.

Pickett spent five years in college, two of those with Siena and the last two with Penn State. In his fifth season with Penn State, he averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, while shooting 50.8% from the field and 38.1% from three. Showcasing an ability to stuff the stat sheet, Pickett would be drafted 32nd overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Joining the Nuggets the season after their NBA Finals victory over the Miami Heat, he hasn't had much opportunity to showcase his talents due to being behind Reggie Jackson and Russell Westbrook in his career. Denver is a deep team now, but injuries should open the door for more contributions from Pickett.

The best part about Pickett for the Nuggets is his cost, as he has one more year under contract with a $2.4 million team option for next season. Depending on who returns to Denver for the 2026-27 season, Pickett could be one of the top backup guards in the NBA by next season if his role increases.