Former Michigan duo come up big in NBA return

The two former Wolverines are going off in their first game back to action — with Burke in a Dallas jersey for the first time in years.

[jwplayer Wgv8SBGE-XNcErKyb]
Don’t call it a comeback. Actually, former Michigan point guard Trey Burke is a master at comebacks, so nevermind.

After being something of a journeyman in his NBA career, Burke has found a new team, now playing with the Dallas Mavericks — which happens to be the team his former backcourt partner-in-crime Tim Hardaway Jr. plays for. The two were briefly teammates with the New York Knicks, but in Burke’s first game with Mark Cuban’s team, he’s looking to make a statement.

But then again, so is Hardaway.

As the NBA is in its second night having resumed play in an Orlando bubble, both former Wolverines came out on fire, with each having scored 19-points in just the first half, helping Dallas put up 85 to Houston’s 75 — the most combined points in a half in an NBA game since 1990.

While it’s impressive that both players are coming up big in their NBA return, given that Hardaway has been more of a known commodity in the pro league and a starter, that’s less surprising than Burke’s emergence, as he continues to come off the bench.

Burke hasn’t been completely quiet in the NBA, however. This very season, while with the Philadelphia 76ers, he managed 21 in a 141-94 victory over Cleveland — which was then lwd by his former Michigan coach John Beilein.