On Wilson Chandler’s cellphone is a series of apps that provide soothing sounds. Crashing waves make it easier to sleep. Regular good nights of sleep have done Chandler’s game a world of good.

“Personally,” said Nuggets forward Chandler, “I think this is the best basketball I’ve played since that season that we were traded here.”

That was 2011.

This is the season of Chandler’s renaissance. He’s off to the best start of any season in his career. His averages for points (18.3) and rebounds (7.7) are career highs. His field-goal percentage is the second-highest of his career (47.1 percent). He’s scored at least 25 points in his last two games, a career first.

But just as important as the totals themselves is when he’s scored. Chandler hit all three of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of a win at Phoenix. And those buckets were necessary.

“It’s too early to start talking about sixth man of the year and all of that stuff,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “But he’s been our MVP.”

There are many reasons for that. Sleep is one of them.

“I struggle with sleep a lot,” Chandler said. “So I just sacrificed a lot of stuff that I like doing, like staying up late and watching movies, playing video games.

“I just turn the TV off, turn the lights off, just make it dark. I have five or six apps that have all these types of calming sounds. I just do whatever it takes to get some sleep.”

He has also changed his diet. Chandler is now generally alternating between been a pescatarian diet and a vegan diet.

His revived play is a direct result of a revamped plan of taking care of himself.

“A lot of the stuff I did before because I had to,” Chandler said. “Now I’m doing things to stay above water, keep myself from backtracking.”

The rest is fulfilling the promise he has always shown. On a versatile team, Chandler is arguably its most versatile player. He is deployed nightly at small forward and power forward but could play shooting guard if asked. Defensively, he can guard any of the perimeter spots and is strong enough to withstand a few possessions of dirty work defending in the post.

Offensively, Chandler’s deadliest actions are spot-up, transition and isolation. He’s above a point per possession, shooting a combined average of 52.1 percent in those three. They make up half of all of the actions he’s involved in and Malone has gotten comfortable running numerous plays for him. When Emmanuel Mudiay’s recent assist binge started, a large chunk of the helpers were going to Chandler.

“He’s probably playing at one of the highest levels in the league right now,” Mudiay said. “He’s a mismatch problem. Him playing the four is helping us a lot. He’s making tough shots.”

Chandler’s refusal to settle for jump shots stands out — he relentlessly attacks the rim — as does his constant attention to keeping the floor spaced. He’s usually perched in the corner or on the weakside of the court when Nuggets’ ball handlers initiate pick-and-roll action on the strong side. The guards come off the screen and look opposite, where Chandler has floated into an open area. From there, it’s a simple catch and shoot at the 3-point line, where he’s shooting 33.9 percent.

In his last eight games, Chandler has been particularly hot. In fact, he has never had a better eight-game stretch than this one, in which he’s averaging 21.8 points and 8.6 rebounds, is shooting 48.6 from the field and 43.8 from the 3-point line. He has scored in double figures in all eight contests. You’d have to go back to 2011 to begin to find anything similar, just prior to his being traded to the Nuggets.

“That season I was kind of climbing,” Chandler said. “Then I was kind of derailed.”

Chandler referred to the injuries, which became constant issues. That’s why last summer was such a boon. It wasn’t filled with rehab. It was stuffed with actual work on his game. Related Articles November 27, 2016 Nuggets start fast, hold on to down Suns, 120-114

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“I never got the chance to keep growing,” Chandler said. “Most players grow every year from year-to-year. I was derailed a lot. It happens, it’s part of the game. So this is the first time I was able to come back fully healthy, start the season off 100 percent. And I was able to work on my game.”

It has worked.

“It’s great to see him come back healthy, just thriving,” forward Kenneth Faried said. “He loves his position, he loves playing this game and to see a guy like him, who plays hard and gets after it. He has so many intangibles for our team.”

And, at the moment, the Nuggets are in desperate need of everything he has to offer.

“The level he’s playing at right now is very high,” Malone said. “Obviously, we need him to continue to do that, especially with all of the injuries that we’ve had. I love Wilson. I love how he plays and I love who he is.”

CHANDLER’S GREAT EIGHT

Wilson Chandler is on a tear right now, coming off of back-to-back games of 25 points or more. His last eight games have been particularly productive. These are the best eight-game stretches of his career:

Nov. 12-26, 2008: 17.1 ppg, 8 straight in double figures, 6.5 rebs, 45.8 FG, 35.2 3FG

Dec. 22, 2009-Jan. 2, 2010: 19.3 ppg, 8 straight in double figures, 6.6 rebs, 52.3 FG, 23.0 3FG

Nov. 30-Dec. 15, 2010: 19.7 ppg, 8 straight double figures, 7.5 rebs, 54.0 FG, 41.1 3FG

Dec. 17 2010- Jan. 4, 2011: 19.6 ppg, 8 straight double figures, 53.0 FG, 45.7 3FG

Last eight games this season: 21.8 ppg, 8 straight double figures, 8.6 rebounds, 48.6 FG, 43.8 3FG