Bones Hyland sat in front of a Clippers teammate’s locker late Friday and spoke to reporters for the first time in weeks, maybe months. It wasn’t some media boycott by the third-year point guard. He simply had nothing to discuss.
Until now.
“Bizzy’s back. Bizzy’s back,” Hyland said, using an alternate nickname. “It’s been a long time, but honestly I’m just ready to keep contributing to the team, build up these wins and carry this momentum into the thing that we all want to do.”
Hyland was referring to getting a spot back in coach Tyronn Lue’s rotation, a move necessitated by the injury to Russell Westbrook, who fractured his left hand attempting to steal the ball from Jordan Poole in the Clippers’ 140-115 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The team did not have a timeline for Westbrook’s return. In the meantime, Hyland is expected to fill his role coming off the bench starting with Sunday’s game at the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lead the Western Conference.
“First of all, it sucks for injury to happen to anybody. Nobody wants injuries,” Hyland said.
Hyland has not been in the rotation since the Clippers acquired 10-time All-Star and former league MVP James Harden in November, a blow considering he started the season a main piece in the lineup.
In the season’s first five games, Hyland averaged 26.2 minutes and 13.6 points per game. Then Harden came in and Hyland was pushed out of the conversation.
“Yeah, it’s been challenging, but I had to get through it,” Hyland said. “Everything always comes back around full circle to the ones who work hard and stay down.”
The one player who kept Hyland from getting too discouraged was Westbrook.
“Russ has been a great leader to me, man, since I came here, even before I got here,” Hyland said.
“He’s always been that guy I can go talk to. … In this whole process, he told me to stay down, stay hungry, keep stay in the gym, just keep being myself and it’ll come back around full circle.”
Hyland never publicly complained about the lack of playing time. Since Nov. 10, he has collected 34 DNPs and was listed as inactive five times. One of those times was when he and teammate P.J. Tucker, who also wasn’t getting off the bench, were sent home from Golden State to “get their minds right,” according to Lue.
While Hyland stewed, he continued to practice hard, waiting for a second chance to show off his quickness and hustle on the court. He knew he could pout or stay ready.
“Just providing what I can provide, coming in and doing what I always do,” Hyland said of his new opportunity. “Nothing’s changed. I’m just back in the rotation now so it feels good just to be back. Man, it feels really good.
“It’s almost like how last year I was sitting out a couple games and coming back right before playoffs. So, it’s literally like the same thing. Just this time I was out a little bit longer.”
Paul George said Hyland needs to play his game but also stay within the parameters of the Clippers’ offense and fit into the rhythm they have established with Westbrook coming off the bench.
“We need him. He’s ready for the moment,” George said. “He’ll get his rhythm, he’ll get his time in. I mean, he hasn’t played real meaningful minutes for us in a long time, but he’ll find his way. We’re going to support him through it. … Losing Russ is a big blow, and we need Bones to fill that gap for us.”
Clippers at Timberwolves
When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis
TV/radio: KTLA Ch. 5/AM 570, KWKW 1330 AM