Michigan Basketball: Tim Hardaway Jr. drills dagger in NBA playoff win

Former Michigan basketball standout Tim Hardaway Jr. continued his hot start in the playoffs by scoring 28 points and hitting a dagger in the win for the Mavs over the Clippers.

There’s no question that Luka Doncic deserves a ton of credit for the Dallas Mavericks winning the first two games of their NBA playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

But Tim Hardaway Jr., the former Michigan basketball star, has also played a key role, scoring 49 points in the two victories — making 11 3-pointers — and knocking down this absolute dagger to lockdown Game Two on Tuesday night in LA.

It’s been awesome to see Hardaway have the kind of season he’s had. He averaged 16.6 points per game and shot 39 percent from beyond the arc.

While Dallas definitely found a superstar in Luka, it also found an ideal piece to have around him in Hardaway, who after consecutive 39-percent seasons from beyond the arc, is going to get paid this offseason, whether it’s by the Mavs or someone else.

Especially after the way Hardaway has played in the first two games of the NBA playoffs.

Hardaway Jr.  making a name for himself

After getting picked in the first round after a solid career with Michigan basketball, Hardaway has been a really effective NBA player. He’s only averaged under double figures in scoring once in his career and his 3-point shot has continued to get better and better.

More from GBMWolverine

• 3 things to watch for Michigan football vs. Rutgers
• Michigan football vs. Rutgers: Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 4
• Michigan Wolverines news: Jim Harbaugh wants J.J. McCarthy ‘gunslinging’, plus a drop in recruiting rankings
• Grades, game balls for Michigan football vs. Bowling Green
• Michigan Wolverines news: Jake Moody is money in the NFL, plus more

Of course, shooting 62 percent from the field and 65 percent from beyond the arc, which he has done through two games, probably isn’t sustainable throughout a seven-game series, yet the Mavs are halfway to an upset of the Clippers, who many viewed as NBA title contenders.

It’s the first time Dallas has gone up 2-0 in a series since the 2011 Western Conference semifinals.

Luka has been amazing these past two games and is the straw that stirs the drink for Dallas. He’s one of the best players in the world, period.

But Tim Hardaway Jr. has proven he’s essential too and he’ll need to keep knocking down shots if the Mavericks are going to finish off this upset.

Trey Burke is also on the Dallas roster but hasn’t been active yet in this series. Duncan Robinson’s Miami Heat are back in action Thursday. The Heat trail Milwaukee 0-2, even though Robinson knocked down seven 3-pointers in Game One of the series.