Ja Morant makes a poster dunk that sends a man to the floor. (0:20)
Ja Morant exploded with a vengeance Tuesday night in one of the most compelling closing performances in recent playoffs history. His exploits fueled a fourth-quarter rally that lifted the Grizzles to a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Morant's late heroics began when he dunked over the Wolves guard in the closing seconds of the third quarter, sending an electric current through the crowd at FedEx Forum. Morant and the rest of the team woke up after the slam cut the deficit to 11 points.
The best view of his dunks is always by Brandon Clarke. He brought the ball all the way back and flushed it, that was a play that can really get us going.
Morant scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to ignite his team as they roared back to win the game and the series. The significance of Morant's play has larger repercussions for a team that has been desperate for a display from its superstar.
In the first four games of the series, Morant averaged 20 points, 10.8 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 turnovers, with an un exceptional true shooting percentage of 50.4. He had a difficult time finding a balance between speed and control, even though he paced the Grizzles to a win in Game 2.
Over the first 36 minutes, it was the case. Morant had scored 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting from the field and only 2-for-7 from the foul line before he dunked. Fans at FedEx Forum cheered when Morant missed his first three free throws. He sank his fourth attempt.
Morant played all 12 minutes in the fourth quarter and sparked a teamwide comeback, as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the final six minutes, Morant scored 16 of his 18 points.
His relentless attacks at the heart of a Minnesota defense that threw multiple bodies at him generated 10 attempts at the line in the quarter, and he converted nine of the 10. He drained his fourth 3-pointer of the game with just over a minute remaining in the game to give the Grizzles a one-point lead.
The coach of the Grizzles said that he was huge and that he had a smile on his face. This is the fun part of the playoffs, you don't know how you're going to win. You keep chipping away. Continue to trust it. He had a great fourth quarter.
The ball was inbounded to the Grizzlies after Anthony Edwards tied the game with a 3-pointer. Morant, who led the NBA in points per game, was able to drive into the paint after Edwards gambled for a deflection on the high side of the pass. Morant elevated with the basketball between his hands and then lurched toward the basket with a left-handed scoop off the glass. The game was won with one second remaining.
Morant only said "Go get a bucket, Ja." when asked to describe the play design of the final possession.
The high-stakes game between two teams that are very young was enjoyable.
After hitting a shot over Morant in the fourth quarter, Minnesota guard Patrick Beverley unleashed a taunting gesture to the floor to say that Morant was too small.
As the final buzzer sounded after an unsuccessful heave by Minnesota center Karl- Anthony Towns, Morant and teammate Clarke embraced. He was asked what he told Morant.
He told Morant that he was as good as he was.
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