We may have a new Dunk of the Year.
Memphis rookie Ja Morant is an athletic freak, one confident enough in his skills to go right at a big switched onto him. Say Phoenix’s Aron Baynes. On a critical fourth-quarter possession.
1⃣2⃣ JUST CAUGHT A BODY @JaMorant | #GRZNXTGEN pic.twitter.com/XYWYlmrLAn
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 12, 2019
RIP Aron Baynes.
Memphis won the game 115-108.
He has already produced a few amazing plays during his rookie year. He has even taken over full games with his flashy play.
But the performance he put on during the Grizzlies’ win over the Cavaliers last night was something else.
Thrice, Morant elevated for show-stopping dunks. He scored only once. But each time, something incredible happened.
First, Morant way up to catch a lob from Jae Crowder, adjusted mid-air and found Jaren Jackson Jr. for a dunk:
Then, less than a minute later, Morant finished a lob from Crowder with a beautiful one-handed slam:
Finally, Morant leaped to posterize Larry Nance Jr., realized that wouldn’t work then threw a spinning behind-the-back pass to Jackson. Though Alfonzo McKinnie blocked Jackson, Morant’s move was dazzling:
If Morant is going to keep putting on shows like this during games, maybe we can forgive him for skipping the dunk contest.
The Hawks got Trae Young his desired help, trading for Jeff Teague.
Maybe Young will do his part and step up on defense.
That didn’t happen on this possession against Spurs guard Dejounte Murry.
At least Young continued his breakout season on the other end, scoring 31 points and dishing nine assists in Atlanta’s rare victory in San Antonio.
What is it about Cleveland athletes slapping butts and getting in trouble?
Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. faces a simple battery charge for slapping a police officer’s backside in LSU’s locker room after the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Last night, Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson got ejected for slapping Grizzlies forward Jae Crowder‘s behind.
Thompson and Crowder got double technical fouls earlier in the game. So, Thompson got ejected with a tech for this incident between free throws.
Though the two are former Cleveland teammates, Crowder didn’t look amused. Crowder doesn’t play.
The Cavs rallied without Thompson, but Memphis won, 113-109.
Kyle Lowry had the ball in his left hand when he felt contact. Not only did he try to sell a foul by flailing his arms, the right-hander tried to draw a shooting foul by hurling an off-balance 31-footer toward the basket.
No continuation. No whistle at all.
But Lowry made the shot, anyway.
Lowry and the Raptors will take it, but they didn’t need a break like that against the Wizards’ dismal defense last night. Toronto won, 140-111.