Derrick Walton Jr. made sure his final impression in Vegas was a positive one.
Walton matched his summer high for points, 15 on 13 shots, and distributed five assists in the Heat’s 74-72 loss to the Boston Celtics Saturday in the Thomas and Mack Center.
He responded to recent contract disappointment in the previous round, providing a 15-point and 11-assist outburst to down the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106.
In vintage Walton fashion, he nailed a late 3-point dagger as the shot clock expired to clinch the victory.
D.J. Wilson ended his summer on a whimper, mustering only six points on 2-of-9 shooting in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 91-89 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 6-foot-10 forward produced far better in Las Vegas on Wednesday, reaching a double-double in a 83-75 first round triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.
Wilson manufactured 19 points — albeit on 21 shots — and snared 10 boards in the win, building on his solid July that has seen him average nearly 15 points, seven boards and two assists per game.
After a rough rookie campaign in which he barely hit the floor, his offensive confidence and strength appear to be improving.
Saturday’s game reverted back to his initial professional struggles, as he averaged only a single point in 2017-18.
As for summer league revelation Duncan Robinson — recently projected with complete sincerity by Deadspin as a solid 12th man on a future NBA roster — he cooled a bit in his final two games. He needed 10 shots to get to 11 points on Wednesday, only connecting on 1-of-4 from deep.
He sat out Saturday against the Celtics.
Quick injury update on Moritz Wagner, who has a confirmed left knee contusion after an MRI Wednesday. He will miss the rest of the Lakers’ Summer League.
He was available for comment Thursday.
This ends our brief glimpses into nostalgia for past basketball Wolverines. These players, as well as more proven veterans such as Tim Hardaway, Trey Burke and Jamal Crawford, will be seen in mere months in the NBA preseason.