It was a limited slate of games across the NBA on Sunday with Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers taking place. Even so, there was still plenty to takeaway from the action, and the latest Morning Dunk has all of the news, highlights, and betting odds you desire.
Celtics overcome Heat rally
It was a rough afternoon at the office for the Miami Heat, who lost much more than just the game itself.
Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson both went down with injuries and are each scheduled for MRIs on Monday following a 110-106 loss to the visiting Boston Celtics at the Kaseya Center. Miami was also without the services of Jimmy Butler, who has taken a leave of absence following a death in the family.
Jayson Tatum just barely missed out on a triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in 39 minutes. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 25 points and nine rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 20 points of his own.
Kristaps Porzingis catches back-to-back alley-oops and throws them down!
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2024
Heat-Celtics | LIVE on ABC pic.twitter.com/nPBix16IAu
Miami trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter but cut Boston's lead to two with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to Tyler Herro's 22 points in the second half alone.
TYLER HERRO FROM WAY OUTSIDE 😱
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2024
The Heat have cut a 15-point deficit to 2 👀pic.twitter.com/1wuBxuEzAK
Things got chippy when Brown and Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson got tangled up fighting for position, which resulted in Brown flinging Robinson into the stands. Brown was assessed a flagrant-1 foul, while Robinson was whistled for a personal.
Jaylen Brown was assessed a Flagrant 1 after taking down Duncan Robinson on this play.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2024
Agree with the call? 🤔pic.twitter.com/q3Ux5elXCg
The Celtics maintain a five-game lead SU over the rest of the field for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the win. Miami, meanwhile, is now a full game back of the Orlando Magic for the seventh seed, but did manage to cover the spread as four-point underdogs to Boston on Sunday.
SGA, Williams Overpower Sacramento
Like John and the vulgar teddy bear Ted from the 2012 comedy "Ted," the Sacramento Kings were afraid of thunder on Sunday, but didn't have a hilarious song to get them through the worst of it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (38) and Jalen Williams (32) combined for 70 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 127-113 victory over Sacramento at the Paycom Center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crossed up Keon Ellis so bad that even the usually reserved SGA had to smile:
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 11, 2024
pic.twitter.com/SwyyrlMe2b
For Sacramento, Domantas Sabonis notched his league-leading 17th triple-double of the season with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 dimes in the loss.
Textbook give and go with Sabonis and Murray 🤝 pic.twitter.com/zJnFKFeEBa
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 11, 2024
Oklahoma City is now in a three-way tie with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets in the standings, all of whom are half a game back of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 1 seed in the West. The Kings sit 5.5 games back as the seventh seed.
