The NBA Trade Deadline is tomorrow afternoon, but in today's edition of The Morning Dunk, we look at yesterday's slate of games for the best news, highlights, and betting odds you'll find anywhere else.
Tomorrow. Today. Yesterday. Basketball never sleeps.
Irving's Return To Brooklyn A Prosperous One
Kyrie Irving's 140-game tenure as a member of the Brooklyn Nets was littered with injuries, controversies, and even a refusal to play due to a vaccine mandate instituted by the New York City mayor.
In his first appearance at the Barclays Center since the 2023 trade, Irving put on a stellar performance in front of his former fans to the tune of 36 points and five assists across 40 minutes as the Dallas Mavericks prevailed 119-107.
Irving even brought out the big guns for this return, throwing down a rare alley-oop off a lob from teammate Josh Green for just his second-ever dunk as a member of the Mavericks.
KYRIE IRVING LOB JAM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m5Kgeyap6d
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 7, 2024
The win marked Dallas' second in a row SU as a part of its ongoing three-game road trip against Eastern Conference opposition. The Mavericks entered as just the one-point favorites and managed to cover the spread for just the second time in six games.
Suns Send Bucks To Latest Loss Under Rivers
The Doc Rivers era in Milwaukee hasn't commenced as smoothly as perhaps the Bucks' front office, players, and fans would have liked.
The Phoenix Suns got a combined 85 points from Devin Booker (32), Kevin Durant (28), and Bradley Beal (25) on Tuesday in a 114-106 victory at the Footprint Center against a Bucks squad missing Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez. Khris Middleton also exited the game after eight minutes due to an injury.
Durant punctuated his performance for Phoenix early in the fourth quarter with a sensational one-handed poster dunk over Giannis Antetokounmpo.
KEVIN DURANT WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE pic.twitter.com/fWz83H6iUV
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 7, 2024
Milwaukee is now just 1-4 SU since Rivers took over coaching duties with a narrow lead over the New York Knicks for the third seed in the East despite holding identical records. That comes as a result of taking the season series 3-1.
Markkanen Crushes Thunder With Massive Night
The Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They can thank Lauri Markkanen for that.
Markkanen had a double-double of 33 points and 11 rebounds to go along with five made 3-pointers and a pair of dimes in 36 minutes of action to end the Thunder's three-game winning streak and give the Utah Jazz a 124-117 victory.
Lauri Markkanen left his mark in tonight's W over the Thunder 😤
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2024
33 PTS | 11 REB | 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/nQppsCe4LU
The Los Angeles Clippers now hold down the first seed for the first time all season with the stronger winning percentage as a result of the Thunder loss. Oklahoma City is also now 1-5 ATS in its last six games after failing to cover as the two-point favorites.
