The end of your work week has finally arrived, but The Morning Dunk is here to remind you through some of the best NBA news and highlights you'll find online that not all things are set to come to an end.
Just ask Detroit.
Celtics Escape Embarrassment
Of all the teams across the Association to be the one to finally end the Detroit Pistons' historic losing skid, it nearly looked like it would be the one with the overall best record.
The Boston Celtics, sans the services of Jaylen Brown, escaped the TD Garden on Thursday night with a 128-122 overtime victory against a hungry and desperate Pistons squad which put forth one of their stronger efforts throughout their ongoing slide into the history books.
Detroit actually led by as many as 21 points and needed to overcome a six-point deficit in the final 1:40 of the fourth quarter to even force the extra period. The aforementioned lead marked the largest of the season for Detroit.
The Celtics stormed back from 21 points down to pull off a monster comeback win in overtime over the Pistons. pic.twitter.com/sIFwMxBaSB
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 29, 2023
The 28th consecutive loss dropped the Pistons to 2-29 SU for the campaign and tied the 2014-15, and 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers for the longest losing streak in NBA history. The overall record can be broken on December 30 when Detroit hosts the visiting Toronto Raptors.
Haliburton Notches Historic Assists Line
Turnovers are overrated. Just ask Tyrese Haliburton.
The Indiana Pacers guard finished with 21 points and 20 assists in a 120-104 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, becoming the first player since Chris Paul in 2016 to record at least 20 points and 20 assists without turning the ball over in the same game.
Tyrese Haliburton put on a SPECIAL performance in the Pacers' win in Chicago!
— NBA (@NBA) December 29, 2023
21 PTS
20 AST
0 T0
Hali becomes the second player in NBA history to record 20+ PTS, 20+ AST and 0 TO in a game (Chris Paul - 12/10/2016) pic.twitter.com/xDgVffWfZA
Haliburton currently owns +4000 odds in the race for NBA Most Valuable Player, +650 for Clutch Player of the Year, and +2600 for Most Improved Player.
Jokic Can't Miss With Latest Triple-Double
It's as close to a perfect triple-double as you'll see in today's NBA, and it could only come from a familiar source.
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic scored 26 points on a perfect 11-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a blowout 142-105 win over the visiting Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies.
Jokic becomes just the second player to ever notch a triple-double on perfect shooting with a minimum of 10 field-goal attempts.
Nikola Jokic had FULL COMMAND of the floor tonight in the Nuggets' dominating 142-105 win!
— NBA (@NBA) December 29, 2023
🃏 26 PTS (11/11 FGM)
🃏 14 REB
🃏 10 AST
The Joker joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to record a triple-double on 100% shooting (Min. 10 FGA) in multiple games. pic.twitter.com/KS0v6Wh9gY
The triple-double was Jokic's 116th of his career, placing him fourth on the all-time list. He's currently second behind Joel Embiid (+200) at +250 for the best odds in the MVP conversation.
