The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, but the Morning Dunk stops for no one. Here's a look back at all of the activity from Thursday night's slate with all of the news, highlights, and betting odds you need to end your week.
Nuggets' Dominance Over Lakers Continues
On a day in which a 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant was unveiled hours before tipoff, it was the reigning champion Denver Nuggets who managed to walk into Crypto.com Arena and emerge with yet another win over a Los Angeles Lakers squad whose number they've had for quite a while now.
The Kobe Bryant statue is a beauty pic.twitter.com/gU7jg1pCjP
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) February 9, 2024
The Lakers, decked out in their Black Mamba alternate jerseys, fell to Denver for the seventh time in a row (including playoffs), losing 114-106 loss on Thursday. Despite blowing a 15-point lead, the Nuggets managed to lock up the victory on a late 10-2 run after Los Angeles tied the game at 104 apiece with just over two minutes remaining.
The Nuggets ripped off 8-straight points after the Lakers tied it up late 👀
— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2024
Denver wins 114-106 in LA. pic.twitter.com/byTXZGqsXD
The Nuggets covered the spread as the two-point favorites, and are now tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for first place in the Western Conference with identical 36-16 records SU.
Depleted Bucks Fall Again To Timberwolves
The Milwaukee Bucks had a valid excuse for their blowout loss to Minnesota on Thursday, but all the win-loss column will remember is the final outcome.
Without the services of Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard due to injury, and with Brook Lopez just returning to the lineup after his wife gave birth to their child, the Bucks couldn't muster up enough offense to counteract the Timberwolves' defensive prowess in a 129-105 defeat.
Naz Reid DOWN THE LANE 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2024
Timberwolves-Bucks | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/IUlx1GH84W pic.twitter.com/a4Y6isinKM
The Bucks are now 1-4 to kick off the Doc Rivers era of the franchise and a full two games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Pistons Win Consecutive Games For Second Time All Season
A win is a rare commodity for the Detroit Pistons these days, let alone two of them on back-to-back days.
For the first time since Oct. 27-28, the Pistons have managed to string together consecutive victories after holding off the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime at the Moda Center, 128-122.
Detroit was led by Jalen Duren's 27 points and 22 rebounds to help overcome a sensational 49-point career-high effort from Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant.
Jerami Grant in the loss:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2024
49 PTS (career-high)
8 REB
6 AST
18 FTM
1st player to reach those numbers in a game since Spida's 71-point game. pic.twitter.com/EsMTzUblq6
The Pistons managed to cover the spread for the first time in their last eight attempts against Portland, while improving to an incredible 11-2 ATS over their last 13 games this season.
