As we head into the final slate of games before the NBA takes its All-Star break, let's recap all of the major events from Wednesday in today's Morning Dunk with the best news, highlights and betting odds.
Clippers Overcome Curry's Historic Shooting Night
Stephen Curry did everything right on Wednesday, with the lone exception being guiding his team to victory. And that's the one blemish that arguably overshadows most everything else.
The Golden State Warriors All-Star became the first player in history to connect on seven or more 3-pointers in four consecutive games, making 9-of-19 from behind the arc in a 130-125 loss to the Kawhi Leonard-less Los Angeles Clippers at the Chase Center.
He finished with a game-high 41 points in 35 minutes, but the Clippers got 26 points from James Harden, 24 from Paul George, and another 21 from Norman Powell off the bench.
Stephen Curry, sheesh. pic.twitter.com/JEF6MU92Xl
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) February 15, 2024
The loss ended Golden State's five-game winning streak SU, while the win improved the Clippers' record SU this season without Leonard in the lineup to 3-2.
Celtics Put Epic Beatdown on Brooklyn
There are losses, and then there is whatever you want to call what the Brooklyn Nets achieved on Wednesday.
Brooklyn visited the TD Garden and fell by a gargantuan 50 points to the Boston Celtics, losing 136-86. It's the fifth 50-point win for the Celtics in franchise history, and the second-worst loss the Nets have ever suffered.
Boston also dominated without the services of Jaylen Brown, who sat with a right shoulder contusion.
Payton Pritchard registered a game-high 28 points for the Celtics, and is now the franchise's all-time leader in 3-pointers made off the bench after connecting on six against the Nets.
Criss cross triple 😤
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 15, 2024
PP impressed in tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/HtDFFxQJI6
The Celtics were already 13-point favorites to begin with, blowing that number out of the water by improving to 2-7-1 over their last 10 games against the spread.
Siakam Makes Return To Toronto
Pascal Siakam got everything he wanted in his first game back in Toronto since being traded to the Indiana Pacers.
He received a rousing ovation at Scotiabank Arena, saw hundreds of his jerseys in the stands, and perhaps most importantly, got a win for his current team at the expense of his former as the Pacers prevailed 127-125 against the Raptors.
Siakam recorded a team-high 23 points and seven assists while shooting 8-of-17 from the field.
Pascal Siakam received an ovation from Raptors fans in his return to Toronto 🫶
— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2024
Pacers-Raptors | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/meseSAimDc pic.twitter.com/lWOGZVwYG4
Indiana heads into the All-Star break with a 31-25 record SU, good enough for sixth in the Eastern Conference. It didn't cover ATS even in victory, though, as the two-point margin wasn't enough as the three-point favorites.
