Hickson makes most of minutes

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…