The Philadelphia 76ers were in a tough spot heading into Denver to face the Nuggets on Thursday. After losing a portion of the roster due to health and safety protocols, they found themselves on a five-game losing streak. The shorthanded Sixers group managed to stop the bleeding Thursday by taking down Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in shocking fashion to get back in the win column.

Due to the roster being undermanned, Doc Rivers has been forced to go deeper into his bench. Using a short rotation was serviceable at first, but the extended minutes on a nightly basis left multiple players fatigued. To keep players fresh, Rivers has given playing time to guys who typically don't see much in-game action.

Among the players getting an extended look in this stretch is Charles Bassey. Not only did the second-round pick provide serviceable minutes, but he emerged as an unlikely hero in the win over Denver. He tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and frustrated the reigning MVP defensively. For someone who has played minimally in his young career, Bassey put on a rather impressive showing.

Players and coaches were quick to praise Bassey for the way he stepped up and provided a much-needed spark. First up was head coach Doc Rivers, who was more than pleased with the young center's performance:

“You can just see it, his IQ. He did a lot of good things. The guys love him. He gave us a lot of energy because guys were so happy for him,” per Sixers reporter Lauren Rosen.

Later on, Tobias Harris praised the rookie for coming in and making the most of the opportunity put in front of him:

“Charles comes in the game, and his spark really put us over the top tonight. He was ready for the opportunity today, and he got it.”

Coming out of college, Bassey's defensive capabilities were the main bright spot to his game. This was on full display as he was a disruptor around the rim.

Defending a player like Jokic is no small task, but Bassey did not back down from the challenge. Not only did he hold his own against last season's MVP, but he had him visibly frustrated as well. That's rather impressive for a player who is just getting their first taste of NBA action.

Situations like this are a testament to the Sixers' culture. They have all fully embraced the “next man up” mentality, and it has empowered players to help keep the team competitive while they work their way back to full strength.

With this impressive showing, Bassey has shown his coaches and teammates he can hold his own on an NBA floor. Seeing how he handled a matchup like Jokic should make Rivers more comfortable to give him more opportunities later down the road.