We're just over 48 hours away from the NBA's trade deadline, which is when the true fun (and chaos) begins. For now, let's recap all of the festivities from Monday's slate with The Morning Dunk, offering up the quality news, highlights, and betting odds you expect each and every day.
Cavaliers Winners Of 14 of 15 After Lighting Up Kings
They're the hottest team in basketball that not nearly enough people are talking about.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have their core four of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen healthy and available, and as the Sacramento Kings learned in a 136-110 defeat at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, that means big trouble for the rest of the league.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 29 points and five dimes as Cleveland had seven different players score in double figures.
DONOVAN MITCHELL WITH THE SELF LOB 😤pic.twitter.com/j99DE9bHaV
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 6, 2024
With the win, Cleveland has now emerged victorious in 14 of its last 15 games and has sole possession of the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers have also covered the spread in nine of their last 13 attempts, as well.
Clippers Beat Hawks In Barnburner
The OVER for the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks was set at 242 points, so if you took those odds on Monday, then you're very happy this morning.
The Clippers emerged with a 149-142 win (291 total) over the Hawks at State Farm Arena in a game that had 12 different players with 10 or more points and four players with at least 25 points. Kawhi Leonard had 36 points for Los Angeles, while James Harden just missed out on a triple-double with 30 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists across 39 minutes.
James Harden’s ridiculous 4-point play in the Clippers 149-144 (No OT) win vs the Hawks!
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 6, 2024
30 PTS | 10 AST | 8 REB | 6 3PT pic.twitter.com/A666DcOTaX
The Clippers are just half a game out of the first seed in the Western Conference with a 34-15 record SU, with half a game currently separating the top-four teams.
Davis Triple-Double Elevates Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are building momentum, with Anthony Davis' big night helping carry that forward.
Davis achieved his third career triple-double in a 124-118 win over the Charlotte Hornets, finishing with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Anthony Davis went off for a TRIPLE-DOUBLE in the Lakers' win over the Hornets 📊
— NBA (@NBA) February 6, 2024
26 PTS
15 REB
11 AST
3 BLK pic.twitter.com/FT3DNZdJfD
The Lakers have won three in a row SU, but failed to cover the spread as the nine-point favorites against Charlotte.
