The Nuggets' winning formula is simple: Get Bones Hyland going

The following statement may surprise you: Bones Hyland sometimes forgets to smile.

That loveable Hyland grin? Sometimes it disappears during games. Bones’ everlasting positive vibe? Sometimes it goes away for quarters or halves.

“When I step out there, I like to be that sparkplug for the team and also be that positive energy that we need to go out there and perform. Sometimes I don’t have it,” Hyland said. “My teammate JaMychal Green will say, ‘Smile out there and get back to having fun.’ Sometimes I need that because I get to worrying. Like, why am I not making my shots?”

Hyland’s at his best when he’s having fun. It’s when you know he’s in his zone. The rookie is the ultimate performer and crowd-pleaser. On Friday, Hyland’s smile was a constant throughout a Nuggets win for the first time in a while.

Hyland tallied 13 points on 5-11 shooting (3-6 from 3-point range), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and zero turnovers in Denver’s 121-111 victory over the Kings. His three triples were all momentum-swinging shots. It was the first time Hyland has hit multiple 3-pointers in a game since Dec. 17. Heading into Friday’s matchup, Hyland was shooting just 5-30 from distance over his last six games.

“Do your eyes light up when you’ve got Tristan Thompson on an island?” Hyland was asked postgame.

“Most definitely,” he chuckled.

Hyland’s craftiest bucket of the night came early in the fourth when he crossed up Tyrese Halliburton, not once but twice, and scooped the ball in with his right hand.

And then, this:

pic.twitter.com/R3DW6Js5FI

— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) January 8, 2022

“That’s just the Bizzy moves. Moves like Jagger,” Hyland said. “It’s just the instincts that I have. I drove. He tried to cut me off. Just did a counter move. Layup. Hit my little dance.”

The Nuggets are now 7-0 when Hyland scores 10+ points. There may be something to that statistic.

It’s rare for a rookie to be as integral to a potential contender as Hyland is to Denver. It’s probably because the Nuggets’ bench has been so…terrible. Denver got 42 points from its bench Friday, which was a key reason why the Nuggets snapped their two-game losing streak. The Nuggets dominated the non-Jokic minutes vs. Sacramento. Despite going for 33 points (13-20 FG’s, 3-6 3FG’s), 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, Jokic was a +/- o.

One factor that helped get Hyland into an offensive rhythm? Nuggets acting coach Popeye Jones thinks it had something to do with his backcourt partner.

“Facu’s a great guy. He kept saying — as you guys saw, Jeff’s and his pick-and-rolls were great — he was worried about getting Bones (going),” Jones said. “He goes, ‘Well, Bones has it going too.’ I was like, ‘Well, Jeff rolling to the basket and you handling the ball is our best offense right now on the second unit.’ When you’ve got a point guard who’s playing well in the pick-and-roll but he’s still thinking about his backcourt mate, that’s pretty good. That’s pretty special.”

It’s a positive development that Hyland and Campazzo clicked on Friday. That duo should be a strong fit together on the offensive end of the floor although defensively it could be a struggle. They’re set up to play a lot together going forward.

After starting the Nuggets’ last four games with Monte Morris in health and safety protocols, Campazzo moved back to the bench Friday. The Campazzo-Hyland backcourt is going to be what Denver’s second unit relies on to create healthy offense.

“I can score off the ball and I can score on the ball,” Hyland said. “It’s hard to guard when you’ve got a person who can distribute, and then you’ve got to worry about a person who can score and distribute as well. Me playing off the ball I feel is great for the second unit because it provides scoring and provides me playmaking as well.”

“I know when to go get mine and when to create for others. I had one play when the kid went under the screen. I could have just shot the ball but I wanted to get my teammate involved. I knew he had it going. I passed it to Jeff. He hit the 3 from the top of the key.”

Hyland’s such a loveable figure because he brings pure joy to the hardwood. He’s the Nuggets’ vibe master and a locker room pied piper. Hyland pumps others up when they’re rolling and is Denver’s single-dose stimulant when he’s firing on all cylinders.

The best version of this Nuggets team involves Hyland playing a central role on Denver’s bench. The Nuggets’ second unit needs his playmaking. That group needs his shooting and his ability to break the defense down off the dribble. They need his fire, his spirit and his smile.

An in-rhythm Hyland is the best path forward for Denver’s bench. It’s how the Nuggets can survive the non-Jokic minutes that have been their kryptonite all season.