During the Nuggets’ current five-game winning streak Arron Afflalo leads the team in scoring, with Ty Lawson right on his heels.
You’ll never guess who’s third.
Time’s up: J.J. Hickson.
That’s right, Hickson. The reserve power forward/center has been the team’s best scorer off the bench at 13.4 points per game during the winning streak. He’s doing so on a blistering 73.2 percent shooting from the field. He’s also averaging 7.2 rebounds per game.
All of this from a player who found himself pushed toward the back of the rotation not too long ago.
“He’s played better as of late, and I think it’s because (Timofey Mozgov) is gone,” Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said. “He knows he’s going to get more minutes now. So, as a result of that, it’s relaxed him.”
With Mozgov gone to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Hickson has gotten a lot more minutes playing in the post, and he’s done the most with it. In the past five games he’s only taken one shot as far out as the free-throw line. And only one of his makes has come outside of the lane.
And that’s the way Shaw wants it.
“The biggest thing with him, he’s our best pick-and-roll big in terms of when he sets the pick and rolls to the basket with force he either dunks it, gets a nice little layup or floater around the basket, or he gets fouled,” Shaw said. “He has awesome athletic ability. Usually he’s quicker than most of the guys playing at his position, and we want him to use that to get to the rim.”
The shots he’s making now were a struggle for him early on this season. He was missing a lot near the basket. Hickson credits “getting my work in” as the reason those shots are now going in.
“Seeing the ball go in, and getting my confidence back,” Hickson said. “Knowing that I can make those shots and not doubt myself. It just comes with reps. Just getting my work in and staying ready for when my number is called.”
But more than that, Hickson is simply happy to be playing.
As Shaw shortened the rotation early in the season, Hickson was finding himself being phased out. His playing time was sporadic. He admits it was a frustrating period of time.
“It was very difficult,” Hickson said. “But that’s why we’re called professionals. You’re getting paid to play a game, whether you’re playing little minutes or a lot of minutes. You have to do what’s expected of you and stay ready for when your number is called.”
Shaw would like to get more focus from Hickson at the defensive end, and Hickson said he’s continuing to work on it. Still, the Nuggets as a team have played some of their best defense during this winning streak.
Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or
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Spotlight on Monta Ellis: After Ellis shot 1-for-11 in a 114-107 loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle admitted that he probably should have rested Ellis, along with the other players he sat at the Pepsi Center — Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Rajon Rondo. A day off, however, ought to do the 29-year-old Ellis some good. In “one day rest” games this season, he has been really good, averaging 19.6 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field.
NOTEBOOK
• Nuggets: Veteran point guard Jameer Nelson is expected to make his Denver debut Friday against the Mavericks. Nelson was traded to the Nuggets on Tuesday and missed Wednesday’s game. He completed his physical Thursday and joined the Nuggets on their flight to Dallas. He will back up starter Ty Lawson against the team he started this season with — the Mavericks.
• Mavericks: The two injured players who were held out of Wednesday’s game — Tyson Chandler (ankle) and Rajon Rondo (Achilles tendon) — are expected to be back in action. Dirk Nowitzki definitely will play. He sat out Wednesday’s game only to rest.
Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post
