Tuesday night featured some incredible action as some of the NBA's best went head to head. This edition of The Morning Dunk has got you covered with all of the fine details and insane highlights.
Thunder Survive In Classic vs. celtics
It was a clash of the titans when the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the top dogs of the Eastern Conference in the Boston Celtics at the Paycom Center.
The Celtics pushed the Thunder to the brink, overcoming an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter and cutting their lead to two. It wasn't enough in the end, though, as Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to five games SU with a tight 127-123 victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, marking his 23rd game of at least 30 points after leading the Association in such performances with 45 a season ago.
🇨🇦 Represent The Canadians 🇨🇦
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) January 3, 2024
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | vs. Boston
36 POINTS
3 THREE POINTERS
7 ASSISTS
6 REBOUNDS
1 STEAL@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/bL0Ombn5r8
Oklahoma City improved to 8-1 ATS with the four-point victory after entering as the four-point underdogs. Boston has now failed to cover the spread against the Thunder in its last six meetings.
Embiid's wastes no time with triple-double
When you're as dominant as Joel Embiid has been, you don't require a full four quarters to put up monster lines.
The reigning league Most Valuable Player had a triple-double in the first three quarters alone against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, finishing with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 dimes in a 110-97 win for the Philadelphia 76ers.
He joins Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to ever record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 14-straight games.
The no-look pass for the triple-double. 🚫 👀
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 3, 2024
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, JOEL EMBIID?!?!?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/KI0QqxSyNT
As the 2023-24 MVP odds continue to fluctuate, Embiid still finds himself atop the field with +200 odds.
Morant scales mt. wembanyama
It's a tall task (literally), but someone has to do it.
Ja Morant's ascent upon returning from suspension continued on Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs, with his night including a two-handed poster dunk over the outstretched 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama.
“That’s what everybody wanted, so that’s my late Christmas gift.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 3, 2024
Ja Morant on his dunk over Victor Wembanyama 🎅
(via @DamichaelC)pic.twitter.com/QryevfW3Uy
The Memphis Grizzlies are now 6-2 SU in games Morant has played since he's returned after beating the Spurs 106-98. Morant finished with a double-double of 26 points and 10 assists, while Wembanyama had 20 points and four rejections in a losing effort for San Antonio.
