Denver • He gave Naz Mitrou-Long nine stitches last week, but Trey Lyles’ own head looked no worse for the collision on Friday morning, as his Nuggets team prepared for another game against the Utah Jazz.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I have a hard head, so it’s good.”
The 6-foot-10 forward has plenty of reason to be feeling fine: He’s found a home in Denver since the Jazz traded him in June.
In his last 12 games, Lyles is averaging 16.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and shooting 56.9 percent from the field (50 percent from 3-point range) while stepping in the front court and helping carry water for the injured Paul Millsap. Over that period, the Nuggets are 6-6 and in solid position to make the playoffs in the Western Conference. They’ve also beaten Utah in the last meeting, and Lyles had 16 and 8 in the game.
But for the fourth outing against his former team, Lyles said he’s starting to find a normalcy to playing against the Jazz. It’s less about payback and more about finding success for himself and the Nuggets.
“My confidence is at an all-time high right now,” he said. “Just [comfort] within the system and the team. Just a freedom to go out there and play the way I need to play and play the way that’s going to make me better.”
The Jazz are reeling lately, especially on the road with a 3-15 record this season. After Denver beat them convincingly at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets said they’re prepared to take a counter-punch from a Jazz team that potentially could be more motivated for the final regular season game between these two division rivals.
Lyles, after all, has been in that locker room before.
“No team wants to lose like that,” Lyles said. “I know how Coach [Quin] Snyder is already. They’re gonna be into guys, and they’re going to be hyped up as well.”
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