These days, J.J. Hickson takes each moment he spends on the court in a game with appreciation.
The reality in which he now lives says possessions and minutes and games are not promised to him. Earning them back is his ultimate goal, but just going out and playing well in bite-size pieces is his immediate concern.
He felt good to be back out there, playing meaningful minutes in the Nuggets’ win over the Lakers on Tuesday — and making a difference.
“I felt great,” Hickson said. “I felt like a kid in never-never land.”
Most importantly to the Nuggets, Hickson played with a ton of bounce. Hickson was deadly in screen/roll situations and in cutting to the rim to finish with dunks and layups. He was so effective in slicing to the rim that he took no dribbles on six of his eight made shots.
WATCH:
Hickson made 8-of-9 from the field, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds. His scoring was a big part of the Nuggets’ 54 points in the paint.
“Can’t say enough about him,” Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried said. “He hasn’t played a game this whole season. It’s only four games. But he came out, and he was ready. He stayed ready, got ready, and when his number was called he came out and dominated.”
Hickson started in place of injured center Joffrey Lauvergne, and he may get another start Thursday, when the Jazz comes to town. Lauvergne and reserve center Nikola Jokic are nursing back injuries.
Hickson shrugged it off.
“I can’t worry about the future,” he said. “I have to worry about now, and right now I’m in the rotation. And I have to put myself in position to play the best basketball I can.”
The Nuggets did not practice Wednesday, so the first chance to determine whether one or both can return is during shootaround Thursday morning. The game is the first leg in the Nuggets’ first back-to-back of the season. They travel to face Golden State on Friday.
Four on the Floor:
Nuggets coach Michael Malone wasted little time in his postgame news conference Tuesday to praise Hickson.
“I have to give J.J. a shout-out because here’s a guy that had not played at all,” Malone said. “We don’t get this win without J.J. Hickson’s contribution.”
Hickson logged 24 minutes against the Lakers. In the first three games he played just once for three minutes. About a week ago, Malone texted Hickson to thank him for his professionalism in the face of not playing.
Hickson repaid him with his performance Tuesday. The two go back to Hickson’s first couple of seasons in the NBA, after he was drafted by Cleveland in 2008. Malone was on the Cavaliers’ staff back then. Hickson said the reunion with his former coach has “been great.”
“We definitely have a relationship from my first two years in the league, playing with Cleveland,” Hickson said. “So, when he came to Denver, I was very excited for him. I congratulated him on the new job. And I knew what type of guy he was. He’s a no-excuse guy. He’s a hard worker. He’s definitely respected by the whole team.”
Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or @dempseypost
UTAH AT DENVER 7 p.m., ALT; 950 AM
Spotlight on Rodney Hood:
Rodney Hood’s ascension has been steady. Last year, the 6-foot-8 guard was a first-round pick out of Duke. He earned more playing time by necessity after Alec Burks went down with a shoulder injury. Now Hood is earning time because … he earned it. He’s the starting shooting guard for the Jazz, and he’s played well, averaging 15.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists going into Wednesday
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets:
Centers Joffrey Lauvergne and Nikola Jokic are questionable because of lower back strains. They did not play in Tuesday’s game at the L.A. Lakers. … Danilo Gallinari had 21 points in the win over the Lakers. He has scored at least 10 points in all four Nuggets games this season. … The Nuggets have won 10 of their last 14 home games against Utah.
Jazz:
This is the second of a back-to-back for the Jazz, which played at home Wednesday night against the Portland Trailblazers. … Dante Exum has been out of the lineup and will be out indefinitely because of left ACL surgery after suffering the injury in the summer. … Utah split the four-game season series last year with the Nuggets.
Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post
