Kick your week off the right way by checking out the latest edition of The Morning Dunk, chronicling all of the big NBA news, highlights, and betting odds from Sunday's slate.
Curry's Minutes Limited In Loss To Timberwolves
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is playing the long game when it comes to his superstar guard.
After Stephen Curry played just 30 minutes on Sunday in a 114-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kerr was forced to defend his decision-making as the Warriors lost their second game in a row and third in their last four.
"We can't expect to just ride Steph game after game after game," Kerr said, according to ESPN's Kendra Andrews. "We've put the burden of this franchise on his shoulders for 15 years. We can't expect him to play 35 minutes ... If you want to say that him playing 30 minutes instead of 32 is a difference between a win and a loss, I totally disagree with that. We're trying to win the game. And we're trying to keep him fresh, too."
Curry finished with 31 points on 9-of-23 shooting, and was subbed out of the game with roughly four minutes remaining in the third quarter before reentering halfway through the fourth. Minnesota was led by Anthony Edwards and his 23 points and eight dimes.
Still a work in progress but another step forward for Anthony Edwards with his playmaking against loaded defenses last night. Much quicker at making reads when he's facing two on the ball and really excelling at reading the low man and reacting accordingly. pic.twitter.com/skZbNP5vjA
— Jake Paynting (@HowlsAndGrowls_) March 25, 2024
With the Houston Rockets having won eight in a row SU, the Warriors' lead for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference has dropped to just a single game.
Lakers, Pacers Blow Away OVER/UNDER Total
If you took the OVER for this matchup at Crypto.com Arena, then you're waking up a happy camper.
Four players on the Los Angeles Lakers scored 26 or more points, led by Anthony Davis' double-double of 36 points and 16 rebounds, in a 150-145 barnburner of a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
ANTHONY DAVIS MY GOODNESS 😱pic.twitter.com/BfpqsyVPE2
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 25, 2024
The total has gone OVER in five of the Lakers' last seven games, but just once in the Pacers' last eight.
Harden's Return To Philly Marred By Loss
There wasn't a lot of Brotherly Love to be had from James Harden as his first game back in Philadelphia since requesting a trade from the Sixers to the Los Angeles Clippers didn't play out accordingly.
Despite Harden finishing with 12 points and 14 dimes, Philadelphia ultimately didn't face too much resistance as Tyrese Maxey scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half during a 121-107 win for the 76ers.
Tyrese Maxey steps back from DEEP to close out the 1Q in LA 🎯 pic.twitter.com/VunFf7tpMS
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 24, 2024
The Clippers are falling further and further out of contention for the top seed in the West, now sitting 5.5 games back of the reigning champion Denver Nuggets with just a few weeks remaining in the regular season.
