As Ja Morant responded to a query throughout his postgame digital media availability Friday night time, Dillon Brooks, seated to Morant’s proper, punctuated considered one of his Memphis Grizzlies backcourt companion’s solutions with two phrases.
“Prime 5,” Brooks blurted, a reference to Morant’s current declaration that he ranked among the many NBA’s 5 finest level guards.
Morant’s efficiency Friday in a 117-112 extra time victory over Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors — punching the Grizzlies’ playoff tickets with the league’s lone street win within the play-in match — actually offered ammunition for that argument.
Morant, a 21-year-old blossoming star level guard, had 35 factors, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Extra vital, he delivered with the sport — and the season — on the road. Morant scored 15 factors within the fourth quarter and extra time, together with a pair of driving floaters within the closing minute to ice the win and earn the correct to face the Western Convention’s top-seeded Utah Jazz in a collection that begins Sunday in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Morant remoted towards Curry, drove to his left and pulled up on the dotted line within the lane to swish a floater that gave the Grizzlies a three-point lead with 48.3 seconds remaining. After a Warriors turnover, Morant let the shot clock tick down earlier than attending to the identical spot, driving towards Juan Toscano-Anderson from the left wing earlier than spinning into the lane and sinking the dagger floater with 4.5 seconds remaining.
“I really like strain, truthfully,” stated Morant, who assisted on backup heart Xavier Tillman’s go-ahead nook 3 with 1:27 remaining. “I really feel like my recreation rises to a different degree.”
The Grizzlies’ win on the Chase Heart was an upset, however Morant’s spectacular effort couldn’t be thought of a shock. He has a confirmed monitor document of performing in high-stakes video games, equivalent to his triple-double to guide Twelfth-seeded Murray State to a March Insanity upset win in 2019 and his 35-point, 8-assist outing as a rookie in final season’s thrilling play-in loss to Damian Lillard and the Portland Path Blazers.
The Warriors dared Morant to make them pay together with his perimeter taking pictures, which is his largest weak spot as a 30.3% 3-point shooter this season. He did, going 5-of-10 from 3-point vary Friday night time. Then Morant beat Golden State down the stretch together with his largest power, attacking off the dribble and ending.
“He rose to the event,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated. “He’s constructed for these moments. I’m glad that he performed to that degree that we count on and he expects of himself.”
Consequently, the Grizzlies turned the youngest playoff crew for the reason that 2010-11 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who featured future MVPs Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, all age 22 or youthful. Memphis’ roster has a median age of 24.8 years previous, and the Grizzlies’ whole playoff expertise (112 video games) is the same as Curry’s alone.
“We’ve created a successful tradition,” stated Brooks, who has performed all 4 of his NBA seasons for the Grizzlies, making him the longest-tenured participant on the Memphis roster. “That’s the primary factor. Each single 12 months, we’re going to get higher, however we’re prepared for Utah.”
The Grizzlies’ guards emphasised that they aren’t happy with sneaking into the playoffs.
“The job’s not completed,” Morant stated. “We’re not attempting to be finished simply making it to the playoffs. We’re attempting to make a deep run.”
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