How the "electric" Bones Hyland ignited Ball Arena and kept the Nuggets believing

With Ball Arena already in a frenzy after Will Barton’s game-sealing 3 in front of the Warriors’ bench, Bones Hyland took it upon himself to raise the energy in the building even higher.

As Michael Malone addressed his team during the timeout with 7.9 seconds remaining in regulation, Hyland strutted down the far the sideline slapping high fives with every courtside fan. He then made his way to the baseline and let out a scream. He eventually got back to Denver’s bench but first stopped near half-court and motioned for the Nuggets’ faithful to get even louder.

“He electric,” Monte Morris said of the Nuggets’ rookie.

Sunday served as the latest chapter in Hyland’s rookie year story, one that keeps getting better with time. Hyland emerged as a key member of the Nuggets’ rotation in November. A few months later, he took over as Denver’s backup point guard. In March, he had his best month as a pro, averaged 14.3 points per game, and shot 47.6% from 3-point range. In the second quarter of the Nuggets’ 126-121 Game 4 win over the Warriors, Hyland banged home a trio of 3-pointers from 31, 30 and 33 feet on back-to-back-to-back Nuggets possessions to help Denver capture real momentum for the first time all game.

Back to back to back 3’s for Bones Hyland 🦴

The @nuggets are in the midst of a 30-8 run 🔥#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/YGooy4sm8q

— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2022

It was one of those sequences that you’ll always remember if you were lucky enough to be in attendance on Sunday. It was also so emblematic of who Bones Hyland is and how he’s reinvigorated the Nuggets so many times throughout what’s been such a trying season. It was all guts and gall from a rookie that’s not afraid of any moment or anyone. Not Steph Curry. Not Draymond Green. Definitely not the playoffs.

“Fearless is a word that we’ve used to describe him many times,” Michael Malone said.

There’s just something that feels right about Hyland in Denver. He embraced the city from Day 1. The first memory most Nuggets fans have of Hyland is him grabbing the mic on opening night in October and screaming “Mile High City, babyyy.” It’s become the 21-year-old’s tagline. It’s his brand now. And he’s going to be here for a long, long time.

Something that’s become clear over the last couple of months is that Hyland has locked himself into the Nugges’ core. It’s Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Hyland in that order, at least for me. Of course Michael Porter Jr. just missed pretty much the entire season, but Hyland feels like more of a core member of this franchise right now at this moment in time. He’s the type of guy you want to bet on and go to battle with. It happened quickly, but that’s just how rapidly Hyland ascended in Denver this year.

He’s grown up this season and is now making an impact on the biggest stage under the brightest lights. His teammates know how valuable these minutes can be for Hyland going forward too. It’s rare for a rookie to play this significant of a role on a playoff team.

“There’s still people that were in my draft class that never even played one playoff game,” Morris said. “For him to come in and produce, he’s not scared of nothing. He could go up against anybody and I would put my last dollar in my bank account on him. He’s gonna ride with you and he’s gonna listen. That’s the thing I always told you guys from day one. He wants to get better. If he sees something he’ll come up to me and ask about it. That’s why I say the sky’s the limit for him. It’s just how far he wants to take it gaining.”

There’s still an opening for Hyland to write another chapter to his rookie year. There’s still at least one more playoff game to play. Game 5 is Wednesday in Golden State, and it’s another matchup Hyland won’t back down from. He’ll lead his troops into battle. He’ll jaw with the Warriors’ elite. He’ll walk into Chase Center believing that the Nuggets will win. He’s the smallest guy on the court but has the biggest heart. He’ll play the way he needs to for the Nuggets to have a chance.

“If we go out there and play Mile High City basketball,” Hyland said. “We can beat anybody.”