A massive upset, 51-point game, and emotional post-game interview highlight an eventful slate of NBA games from Thursday night in today's edition of The Morning Dunk. We've got you covered with all of the news, highlights, and betting odds you need to know.
Celtics Suffer Rare Home Loss To Undermanned Lakers
Anticipation for the latest Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics matchup was undermined by the absences of both LeBron James and Anthony Davis due to injury, with oddsmakers making Boston the 9.5-point favorites at opening which went all the way up to 15.5 points.
Austin Reaves and the rest of the Lakers weren't going to lay down, though, especially in the team's first game after James tweeted out an ominous hourglass emoji on X. Reaves dropped a season-high 32 points with seven 3-pointers to lead Los Angeles past Boston with a shocking 114-105 victory at the TD Garden.
It's just the third home loss of the entire campaign for the Celtics.
Austin Reaves stepped up on the road against the NBA's top team, scoring a season-high 32 PTS and knocking down a career-high 7 triples!
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2024
Lakers win 114-105 in Boston. pic.twitter.com/fZ4OLabsrU
Boston is just 2-6 in its last eight games against the spread after failing to cover against the Lakers, while Los Angeles covered for just the first time in seven attempts when taking on an opponent from the Atlantic Division.
Maxey Lights Up Jazz For 51
Just hours after being named an All-Star for the first time in his young career, Tyrese Maxey put forth arguably his strongest performance yet with teammate Joel Embiid unavailable due to a meniscus injury
Maxey scored a career-high 51 points against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, going 17-of-27 from the field and 7-of-9 from behind the arc in a 127-124 win for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 23-year-old joins Embiid, Allen Iverson, and Wilt Chamberlain as the only 76ers to ever register multiple 50-point games in the season.
First time All-Star Tyrese Maxey had 51 on 17-27 FG, 7-9 3P, and 10-11 FT in the road win without Embiid.
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) February 2, 2024
Wow. 🔥pic.twitter.com/Uw8RMzXeWA
Philadelphia improved to 4-9 SU on the season when Embiid is unable to suit up and 30-17 overall, good enough for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Knicks Fans Get Brunson Emotional
Leading your team to a victory at Madison Square Garden after being named an All-Star for the first time while an arena full of die-hard basketball fans chant your name would get anyone teary eyed.
Jalen Brunson couldn't contain his emotions after the New York Knicks won their ninth-straight game on Thursday by defeating the visiting Indiana Pacers 109-105.
Brunson led all players with 40 points, five rebounds, and an assist in 37 minutes as New York prevailed without the services of Julius Randle and O.G. Anunoby.
"This place is unbelievable" -@jalenbrunson1
— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) February 2, 2024
Jalen Brunson gets emotional when talking about tonight's 9️⃣th straight win, his first ever @NBA All-Star game, and The Garden faithful chanting M.V.P. #NewYorkForever | @nyknicks | @alanhahn pic.twitter.com/u6whCTBqQT
New York has gone perfect against the spread during its ongoing winning streak and now holds a half a game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third seed in the East.
