A number of big scoring performances highlight this latest edition of The Morning Dunk as we recap Easter Monday's slate of NBA games.
Booker Drops Another 52-Piece On New Orleans
The New Orleans Pelicans must have a short-term memory, because if that wasn't the case, they would have formulated a stronger game plan to thwart the efforts of Devin Booker.
The All-Star guard scored 52 points and drilled eight 3-pointers in 39 minutes of action to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 124-111 road victory at the Smoothie King Center.
This marked the second time this season that Booker has finished with 50 or more points against the Pelicans, as he also had 52 points on Jan. 19 in New Orleans.
Devin Booker WENT OFF for 52 PTS (37 in the 1H) as he led the Suns to a W in New Orleans!
— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2024
🔥 52 PTS, 9 AST
🔥 19/28 FGM
🔥 8 3PM (career-high) pic.twitter.com/I6NXF3J9Y6
Monday marked the eighth time in Booker's career that he scored at least 50 points in a game, and his third of the 2023-24 campaign.
Phoenix covered as the narrow 1.5-point favorites, improving to 5-2 ATS over its last seven outings.
Cunningham, Jackson Jr. Duel As Grizzlies Outlast Detroit
Two of the Association's young studs in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cade Cunningham, albeit on two of the worst teams going today, battled it out to secure a rare win at Little Caesars Arena.
The ultimate victor on this occasion was Jackson Jr., who finished with a stellar line of 40 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a pair of rejections as the Memphis Grizzlies prevailed 110-108 over the Detroit Pistons.
JJJ scored 27 of his 40 points in the second half alone to help Memphis after the team trailed by 13 points at halftime.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cade Cunningham put on a show tonight as Memphis edged out a 2-point win over Detroit!
— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2024
JJJ: 40 PTS, 7 REB
Cade: 36 PTS, 8 AST pic.twitter.com/96KH17PNPY
Cunningham, meanwhile, recorded 36 points and eight assists as Detroit fell to 13-62 SU.
The Grizzlies entered as the three-point underdogs and covered the spread for the first time in four games.
Pacers Dominate Nets Once Again
A 12.5-point spread almost seemed too high for this matchup, but the Indiana Pacers ultimately left oddsmakers thinking that it wasn't nearly enough.
Led by Tyrese Haliburton's 27 points and 13 assists, the Pacers dismantled the visiting Brooklyn Nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse en route to a dominant 133-111 win.
a fastbreak flush from Tyrese Haliburton 💨 pic.twitter.com/22Bh05dgU5
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 2, 2024
It was the largest spread of the season in favor of Indiana, and the second time its beaten the Nets by 20 or more points in 2023-24 after winning by 21 back on March 16.
