Michigan NBA Update: D.J. Wilson started to break out for Milwaukee

D.J. Wilson has been biding his time to break out for the Bucks.

The second-year forward for Milwaukee first rode the bench, as former head coaches Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty rode their starters.

A hamstring strain meant rehab time in the G-League for the Wisconsin Herd. Three weeks ago, current head coach Mike Budenholzer decided its time to unleash the former first-round pick.

Wilson notched 22 points in three games this past week, as well as a double-double Thursday against the New York Knicks.

Two days after scoring just five at Madison Square Garden, he boosted his totals to 10 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in a 112-96 victory over New York.

Since seeing 13 minutes back on Dec. 10 versus Cleveland, he has drained a three in each of his appearances. For the month, he has connected on 48 percent of his threes.

Wilson is averaging 6.8 points and 6.4 boards in those eight games, adding five blocks in the process.

Tim Hardaway and Trek Burke are doing what they can for a dreadful Knicks team. At 9-28, the season is already lost.

Against Wilson’s Bucks on Christmas, Hardaway earned a double-double of his own with 14 points (on 18 shots) and 10 rebounds. He sat the road trip two days later, and followed that with an 18-point outing in a 129-97 loss Sunday to the Utah Jazz.

The former Wolverine guard is scoring at a 20.7-point clip, hitting over 35 percent from deep.

In the blowout to the Jazz, Burke had his best game in over a month. He tallied 12 points on five shots, the most since chipping in 15 points on Thanksgiving weekend against Memphis.

He’s still working his way back after an MCL sprain in early December.

OTHER NOTES

• On the other side of the Jazz blowout, Utah center Ekpe Udoh mustered eight points (4-of-5 shooting) and four rebounds. He’s shooting 85 percent on two-pointers with limited attempts.
• Laker forward Moe Wagner didn’t score last week, but did dish two assists in a Christmas rout of defending champion Golden State.
• Speaking of topping the champs, Portland gunner Nik Stauskas swished two 3-pointers in a 110-109 overtime triumph over the Warriors Thursday. He followed that with three points two nights later in a the rematch (a loss).

On Sunday, he drilled two treys for six points in a 129-95 destruction of the 76ers — his previous team.

• 18-year veteran guard Jamal Crawford sat for Phoenix Wednesday due to a knee injury. He returned Friday, playing 19 minutes, scoring six points and racking up four assists in a 118-102 loss to Oklahoma City.