Michigan NBA Update: Nik Stauskas reaches double figures for seventh time this season

Portland guard Nik Stauskas couldn’t have started this season any better.

In the opener against Lebron James and the Lakers, “Sauce Castillo” stole the show. He racked up 24 points, draining five triples for a 128-119 Trailblazer victory.

Since then, he’s only reached double figures six more times...until last week.

The Canadian product only needed seven shots to notch 13 points in a 127-96 Friday win over the Charlotte Hornets (Note: i previously wrote that this was the Utah Jazz). . He also added five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Last Wednesday, he tallied eight points (2-of-3 from three) with three boards and dimes apiece in a blowout victory over the Bulls.

He’s now averaging 6.4 points a game, hitting 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc.

The Michigan duo of Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway continue to carry the Knicks’ offense.

Burke compiled 32 points over his three appearances last week (all losses). Despite his role as the backup point guard, he averages only three less points a night (11.1) than starter Emmanuel Mudiay (14.3).

In just 14 minutes last Monday, he scored 10 points and distributed four assists against Stauskas’ Trailblazers.

Meanwhile, Hardaway exited a 121-106 loss to the Pacers Friday with a hamstring injury. Before then, the Knicks leading scorer had 12 points, including 2-of-6 from deep.

He is scoring just below 20 points a game, shooting 39.7 percent from the field — including 34.7 percent from three.

Other Notes

• Moritz Wagner’s only points this week came in a 113-95 Lakers loss Friday to the Jazz. He mustered six points, chipping in three rebounds and a steal in just eight minutes of action.
• D.J. Wilson contributed a perfect game from the field in Milwaukee’s rout over Atlanta Sunday.

The second-year Bucks forward filled up the stat sheet, racking up eight points, four rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal versus the Hawks.

He also managed five points in Friday’s loss to the Washington Wizards. He’s connecting on threes at a 44-percent clip, boosting his points average to 5.8 a contest.

• Pistons wing Glenn Robinson III continues to work back from his left ankle sprain. On Thursday, he tallied six points on the back of four free throws on five attempts.
• Phoenix reserve guard Jamal Crawford reached three points in a 115-111 victory Tuesday in his only action last week.