A pair of monumental upsets and a tight race for a play-in spot highlight today's edition of The Morning Dunk, where NBA juggernauts fall and bottom-feeders rise from the ashes.
Celtics Blow Monster Lead, Fall To Hawks
Are the Boston Celtics serious, or was this just a blip on their radar?
The Atlanta Hawks trailed by as many as 30 points in the first half, but ended up pulling off the biggest comeback since at least the 1997-98 regular season by defeating Boston 120-118 at State Farm Arena.
The victory was punctuated by a 3-pointer from De'Andre Hunter with 9.2 seconds remaining which put the Hawks up by four in the closing moments.
DE'ANDRE HUNTER PUTS THE HAWKS UP 4 ON NBA TV.
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2024
Once down 30 in this game...
📲https://t.co/5HIHZ8tPyp pic.twitter.com/kUQVKBCHuH
Boston was without the services of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, but was still favored by 10.5 points on the road after riding a nine-game winning streak with 20 wins in its last 22 outings.
It marked just the second time in 10 games it failed to cover the spread.
Rockets Inch Closer To Play-In As Winning Ways Continue
Don't call it a comeback ... just yet anyway.
The Houston Rockets are now within half a game of the final play-in spot in the Western Conference after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 110-92 at the Toyota Center for their ninth-straight win.
Jalen Green had 27 points for Houston, while Jock Landale went a perfect 6-of-6 from the field for 17 points of his own.
Jalen Green is nasty. You can not guard a guy like this on an island. You have to pick your poison. Sag and he hits shots, play him close and it's a bucket. Once he polishes his middy it's over. pic.twitter.com/LWCLaLs0DB
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) March 26, 2024
The win got the Rockets back over the .500 mark with a 36-35SU record. Their winning streak is also the longest in basketball currently.
Spurs Stun Phoenix Without Wembanyama
Letdown games are very much a thing. Just ask the Phoenix Suns, who had their Big Three of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker available, but still couldn't defeat the worst of the West.
The San Antonio Spurs were without rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama due to a sprained left ankle but got 26 points from each of Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell in a shocking 104-102 upset of Phoenix.
This was the third time this season San Antonio had defeated the Suns SU.
Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell each score 26, with Sochan knocking down the game-winner, to lead the Spurs past the Suns!
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2024
Sochan: 26 PTS, 18 REB
Vassell: 26 PTS, 7 AST, 3 STL pic.twitter.com/fQuGczkLT2
This upset was actually less likely than the Hawks over the Celtics as the Spurs were 12.5-point underdogs at home.
It's the second time this month San Antonio has won a game SU after entering as underdogs by 12 or more points.
