Michigan NBA Update: Wolverines Will Rep in the NBA Playoffs

For some former Wolverines, the 82-game NBA regular season is close to being over. In Tim Hardaway Jr.’s case, that’s already the case due to surgery to insert a rod in his leg.

Jamal Crawford and Trey Burke are sprinting towards the finish line. The former totaled 55 combined points over two games this past weekend, while the latter fueled a win over Memphis with a 24-point outing.

Starting with Crawford, he may have put together the two final great performances of his 2-decade career.

On Friday, he tallied 28 points and seven assists for an overtime victory over the Pelicans. Two nights later, he only needed 27 minutes and 17 shots to reach 27 points in a blowout loss at Houston. He also added six more assists.

Phoenix is putting up his lowest scoring average since his rookie season with Chicago in 2000. His 7.3 points per game is only the third time he hasn’t averaged in double figures. He has been one of the league’s best sixth men, scoring 14.6 points per game in his career.

If this is it for Crawford, he made his final moments count.

Burke sparked an overtime victory over Memphis Sunday, leading Dallas with 24 points on just 16 shots. He is currently making his final impression in a battle for the starting point guard against rookie Jalen Brunson and veteran Devin Harris.

He has upped his averages to 11.1 points and 2.8 assists per contest for the 32-48 Mavericks after starting the season with the Knicks.

In addition, Lakers center Moe Wagner and Cavs guard Nik Stauskas will both spend their summers on break.

Wolverines in NBA Playoffs

Former Wolverines will populate the Eastern Conference playoffs. Forward D.J. Wilson is on the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, and is just coming off a 10-point, 7-rebound showing in a win over Atlanta.

He tallied all of his points in the second half, making it the third time in five games that he’s reached double figures. He also made the Sportscenter Top-10 Highlights with this dunk.

The 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward may only be averaging 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game, but his increased production will be important if Milwaukee wins the NBA title.

Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Caris LeVert put together a pair of 24-point nights this past week against the Bucks. The latter was a 133-128 victory on the road Saturday to help clinch a playoff spot for the Nets.

In both games, he notched six assists, as well. He added 18 points versus the Pacers in a Sunday win, as well.

After sitting for over half the season with a dislocated foot, LeVert took some time to find his groove. He failed to hit double-digits in 10 of the last 25 games, far off his nearly 20-point per game mark from early in the season.

This last week was more of his November form. Combine that with De’Angelo Russell, and the Nets project to be a dangerous out in the first round.

Detroit’s Glenn Robinson III didn’t put up much this week for the sagging Pistons, who despite a 4-game losing streak will probably sneak into the playoffs as an 8-seed. Miami’s Duncan Robinson is also warming the bench for a Heat team that sits one game behind Detroit.

Last note: Utah’s Ekpe Udoh probably won’t play much for the Jazz in the postseason aside from some spot minutes as a defensive substitute.