The Western Conference is a giant Battle Royale with heavy hitters looking to knock each other off the pedestal on a regular basis. The Morning Dunk has the latest on that front with all of the best NBA news and highlights from Monday.
Timberwolves' Edwards Upset With Refs Despite victory
A mere two games separate the top four seeds in the West, but the top spot once again solely belongs to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It wasn't easy, though.
Entering the day with identical records, the Timberwolves now move ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder after defeating their Northwest rivals 107-101 at the Paycom Center.
ARE YOU SERIOUS, ANTHONY EDWARDS?!?!?
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 30, 2024
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/urG4b9oaAL
Edwards led his side with 27 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 40 minutes of action, but despite winning in the end, the 22-year-old wing was none too pleased with the officiating and voiced his displeasure in a post-game interview.
“Imma take this fine, but the refs did not give us no calls tonight.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 30, 2024
Anthony Edwards didn’t hold back in his interview after the Timberwolves’ win over the Thunder 😂pic.twitter.com/KeUWZiF5pg
Minnesota now owns a 33-14 record SU, which is a full game up on the Thunder and half a game over the reigning champion Denver Nuggets.
Heat Fizzling Out Quick With Latest Defeat
The Miami Heat must love overcoming adversity because they're putting themselves in a situation which may prove difficult to overcome, although that's nothing new to them.
A 118-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday extended Miami's losing streak to seven games, dropping its overall record to 24-23 SU for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
It's the Heat's longest losing streak since 2008 when the team finished with 15 victories.
KD hits the baseline fadeaway over 2 defenders for a 13-0 PHX run 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2024
Suns-Heat | #CenterCourt action on NBA TV
📲https://t.co/9kTFWhaXuF pic.twitter.com/HQ6S9dfZd8
The Heat have failed to cover the spread even once during this losing streak and surprisingly opened as the 4.5-point favorites against a Suns squad that had lost two in a row, but that followed a seven-game winning streak.
Cavaliers Snap Clippers' Streak
Welcome back, Evan Mobley.
The Cleveland Cavaliers still aren't at full strength but had enough in the arsenal after getting Mobley back in the lineup following a 22-game absence to knock off the Los Angeles Clippers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 118-108.
Evan Mobley in his 1st game since Dec 6th:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 30, 2024
10 PTS
9 REB
5-7 FG
In 20 minutes. https://t.co/5r4tBLCYXF
The loss put a halt to the Clippers' seven-game winning streak SU. It also ended a five-game run of winning against the spread after entering as the three-point favorites.
