Bones Hyland, a record under the sign of revenge

After the heavy defeat received Friday evening by the nuggets in Dallas (-28), Bones Hyland looked like a bad day. Admittedly author of 17 points and 6 assists, he had a hole in the shoot (5/16, including 3/11 at 3-pts), without weighing as usual on the match, finishing with a differential of -24 when he was on field.

The next day, still very frustrated, the 22-year-old leader finally preferred to skip this training session (optional) introduced by denver to work collectively.

” I didn’t go, I stayed in my room and saw the pictures of the game again “, he said for the Denver Post. ” I was so angry after the first match, seeing how we lost. We must not lose like this. Considering the players we have, we can beat any team. »

In a revengeful mood, Bones Hyland was therefore logically keen to bounce back this Sunday, for the second round of this Mavericks / Nuggets, still in Texas. And the least we can say is that he put the forms there: 29 points and 6 assists, 10/21 on shots (including 3/8 at 3-pts)!

” He attacked us “Summarized simply his coach, Michael Malone, after the fact.

One of the best substitutes in the league

In the absence of Nikola Jokic (Covid-19), Jamal Murray (Covid-19) and Aaron Gordon (ill), one could initially expect Michael Porter Jr. to establish himself as the boss of the Nuggets. Finally, even if “MPJ” registered the game winner 55 seconds from the end, it was Bones Hyland who behaved as the leader of the Colorado franchise throughout the game.

Author of his new career points record, and especially of 13 units in the last quarter, the 26th choice of the 2021 Draft therefore pulled out all the stops to go and achieve this rather unexpected success, in Dallas. Electrifying, spectacular and already very mature for his age, he was able to dissect (almost) the Texas defense like a veteran.

” It’s the sign that he grew up between Friday evening and Sunday evening “, estimated Michael Malone, concerning the decision-making of his player ball in hand (6 passes, including that for the game winner of Michael Porter Jr, with only one ball loss) and his progress displayed from game to game.

From one game to another, or more generally from one season to another, because Bones Hyland has been very attractive since the restart: 16.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game (40% on shots, 46 % at 3-pts and 84% on free throws). On his last seven outings, he averages 21.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals in “only” 27 minutes (and 44% in shots, 49% in 3-pts and 91% in throws) !

Statistics worthy of a Sixth Man of the Year, a trophy for which he has a good chance of fighting, if he continues his momentum…