Straight from the Source
Subscribe
Cover photo

Ja Morant is a Human Highlight Reel

A monster dunk and a game-winning layup capped a brilliant 4th quarter for the former rookie of the year giving Memphis a 3-2 series lead against Minnesota

Stefano Fusaro

Apr 27

There isn't a night in which I would purposely choose NOT to watch former NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star is must-see-tv every single night, especially in this postseason.

But through two and a half quarters on Tuesday night, he wasn't living up to the hype. A friend actually texted our group-chat about his poor play through this crucial game 5. It's almost as if Morant was in the chat, because what came next was one of the most compelling closing performances in recent postseason history.

Morant's exploits fueled a fourth-quarter rally that lifted the Grizzlies to a 111-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 and a 3-2 series lead in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The late heroics started when he elevated for an emphatic highlight dunk in the closing seconds of the third quarter, sending an electric current through the crowd at FedEx Forum. The slam trimmed the Grizzlies deficit to 11 points and lifted Morant and his teammates from what was a miserable first 36 minutes of basketball.

"I always get the best view of his dunks," Grizzlies big man Brandon Clarke said. "I was right there. I was like, 'Yo, he just brought the ball all the way back and flushed it hard.' That's a play that can really get us going, can really get us hyped."

But still, more heroics were needed. After Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards tied the game at 109-109 with a 3-pointer,he found himself guarding Morant with just over 5 seconds left. Edwards made the mistake of gambling for a deflection on the high side of the pass, allowing Morant a runway to drive into the paint, where he led the NBA in points per game. As he met Minnesota forward Jarred Vanderbilt in the lane, Morant elevated with the basketball between his hands, before contorting clockwise and lurching toward the basket with a left-handed scoop off the glass. Morant's acrobatics resulted in the game winner with one second remaining.

Asked to describe the play design of the final possession, Morant said only, "Go get a bucket, Ja."

Morant scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and ignited his team as the Grizzlies roared back to stage their second big comeback of the series. While the 11-point deficit was a far cry from the 21-point margin Memphis overcame in Game 3, the significance of Morant's play has larger repercussions for a team that has been desperate for a transcendent display from its superstar.

"He was huge," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said, particularly in light of Morant's earlier struggles. "He just had a smile on his face. 'I made that shot a million times.' I said, 'You're going to make the next one. Just keep shooting, keep attacking.' This is the fun part about playoff basketball. You don't know how you're going to win. You just keep chipping away. Keep trusting it. And obviously, he had a brilliant fourth quarter."

Morant and teammate Clarke, who scored 21 points while leading the Grizzlies in minutes, embraced as the final buzzer rang. Clarke was asked what he told Morant in the celebratory moment.

"Thank God we got you," Clarke said he told Morant. "Thank God that you're as good as you are."

Subscribe for free to Straight from the SourceAn inside look at the sports world, through fun and in-depth conversations with the people immersed in it
By subscribing, you agree to share your email address with Stefano Fusaro to receive their original content, including promotions. Unsubscribe at any time. Meta will also use your information subject to the Bulletin Terms and Policies

More from Straight from the Source
See all

Las Vegas Doubles Down on Formula 1

After a wildly successful F1 Miami Grand Prix, Las Vegas invests millions into the Grand Prix they will begin hosting in 2023
May 18

More Women are Betting on Sports

Make sure to subscribe to “Straight from the Source” here to receive all content via email. Also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
May 18

Labor Agreement Forcing WNBA Teams to Waive Players on Rookie Contracts

Could expansion help the situation?
May 13
Comments
Log in with Facebook to comment

0 Comments

Share quoteSelect how you’d like to share below
Share on Facebook
Share to Twitter
Send in Whatsapp
Share on Linkedin
Privacy  ·  Terms  ·  Cookies  ·  © Meta 2022
Discover fresh voices. Tune into new conversations. Browse all publications