The NBA is officially off for a week as we enter the All-Star break. For the final slate of games which took place on Thursday night, here's everything you missed in one neat little package with the latest edition of The Morning Dunk.
Bucks Hit New Low Against Depleted Memphis
The Milwaukee Bucks trotted out a roster featuring two All-Stars which currently sits third in the Eastern Conference. The Memphis Grizzlies rolled with a nine-man rotation of players who, with all due respect, a common basketball fan wouldn't be able to pick out of a crowd.
Guess who won?
With everything to gain and nothing to lose, the Grizzlies pulled off a sizeable upset by knocking off the Bucks at FedExForum with a narrow 113-110 victory.
The Memphis Grizzlies just beat the Milwaukee Bucks without:
— GrizzMuse (@GrizzlyMuse) February 16, 2024
Ja Morant
Desmond Bane
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Marcus Smart
Brandon Clarke
Derrick Rose
Luke Kennard
John Konchar
Scotty Pippen Jr.
WOW. 🤯🤯🤯
The Grizzlies were led by Ziare Williams and GG Jackson who each had 27 points, while Vince Williams Jr. just missed out on a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
By far, GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. is the best non-first-round value of the last few seasons.
— Ersin Demir (@EDemirNBA) February 16, 2024
What a big haul by Memphis, who's a lock for the playoffs in the coming years when their core is back and healthy.
And still have another potential top-5 pick incoming... pic.twitter.com/PTdis2MT4V
The Bucks fall to 3-7 since replacing Adrian Griffin with Doc Rivers as the new head coach. Milwaukee also failed to cover the massive 14-point spread set right before tipoff, and is now 5-13 over its last 18 games in that department.
Klay Makes Statement Off Bench
The Golden State Warriors had Klay Thompson come off the bench for the first time since his rookie year when taking on the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
Absolute genius.
Thompson had fire coursing through his veins, scoring 35 points on 13-of-22 shooting with seven makes from behind the arc as Golden State prevailed 140-137 on the road.
Klay Thompson came off the bench and made a big-time impact tonight 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2024
35 PTS | 6 REB | 7 3PM pic.twitter.com/mILnbVbyP3
It was the Warriors' second road win of the week against Utah, as they now head into All-Star weekend with a 27-26 record for the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
Timberwolves Pulverize Trail Blazers
A 30-point difference on the scoreboard after 12 minutes of action was indicative of how the remainder of the game was going to play out.
Leading 44-14 at the end of the first quarter, the Minnesota Timberwolves went on cruise control and decimated the Portland Trail Blazers in an eventual 128-91 win to finish the unofficial first half of the season with a 39-16 record for first in the West.
Anthony Edwards you are a sicko pic.twitter.com/hyiN4z9wi1
— 𝒥ℴ𝓃𝒶𝒽 (@Huncho_Jman) February 16, 2024
Anthony Edwards had a game-high 34 points for Minnesota, marking the fourth time in six games the former No. 1 overall pick has registered 30 or more points in a game.
