The Big Aristotle, star performances, and a blowout in Milwaukee highlight today's edition of The Morning Dunk with the best NBA news, highlights, and betting odds you won't find anywhere else.
Magic Lose As Shaq Honored By Franchise
Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 jersey was raised to the rafters at the Kia Center, but the Orlando Magic likely wished he could don their colors one more night to fend off the attack of the visiting squad.
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander combined for 65 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-113 victory over Orlando on a night when O'Neal became the first player in Magic history to have his jersey retired.
O'Neal (Lakers, Heat) joins Wilt Chamberlain (Lakers, Warriors, 76ers) and Pete Maravich (Hawks, Jazz, Pelicans) as the only players to have their numbers retired by three different teams.
Shaq's Magic jersey goes up to the rafters 🔥 pic.twitter.com/H6Hwwyfbb3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 14, 2024
The Thunder now find themselves one game back of the top seed in the Western Conference with the win, while Orlando is slotted in eighth in the East alongside the Miami Heat with identical records.
Suns Overcome Star Performances From Fox, Sabonis
The Sacramento Kings threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, and they probably would have thrown said sink at they had it nearby.
Despite losing Bradley Beal early on with an injury, the Suns still managed to put away Sacramento with a narrow 130-125 win at the Footprint Center despite a pair of incredible performances from De'Aaron Fox (40 points, nine rebounds, and six assists) and Domantas Sabonis (35 points, 18 rebounds, and 12 assists).
Phoenix got 28 points and 11 rebounds out of Kevin Durant, while Eric Gordon contributed 23 points with four 3-pointers off the bench.
WHAT AN ENDING TO SUNS/KINGS 🍿
— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2024
PHX holds on for the W. pic.twitter.com/ikmE1mIMua
Sacramento just barely missed covering the spread as the four-point underdogs to Phoenix, marking the first time in six meetings with the Suns they've failed to do so.
Heat Dominate Bucks Behind Jovic Career-High
Any momentum accumulated from defeating the reigning NBA champions the night prior was completely erased in less than 24 hours for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Heat went into the Fiserv Forum on Tuesday and put a beatdown on the Bucks, winning 123-97 as Nikola Jovic dropped a career-best 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
The loss dropped Milwaukee's record to 3-6 under new head coach Doc Rivers.
NIKOLA JOVIC HAD A CAREER NIGHT AGAINTS THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS 🔥
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 14, 2024
24 PTS (career-high)
8-13 FG
5-8 3PT
7 REB
3 AST
WIN
pic.twitter.com/HlBMzvhdl4
The Heat covered for the sixth time in seven games after entering as the big 6.5-point underdogs to the Bucks, who fall to 6-15 ATS over a 21-game stretch.
