‘You’ve been posterised’: NBA world in disbelief over Ja Morant’s ‘dunk of the year’ contender
We have a critical contender for NBA dunk of the yr, courtesy of a nasty one-handed end from Ja Morant.
The Memphis Grizzlies star left teammates, commentators and followers gobsmacked after pulling off an almighty dunk throughout the third quarter of his facet’s conflict with the Indiana Pacers.
After receiving the ball from simply outdoors the arc, Morant drove previous two Pacers then launched in direction of the ring from effectively outdoors the no-charge zone.
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Morant then spectacularly leapt over Jalen Smith and slammed house a right-handed dunk that had Grizzlies gamers on the bench out of their seats and laughing in disbelief.
“Holy cow … Morant delivering an epic slam,” Pacers broadcaster Chris Denari stated.
Analyst Quinn Buckner added: “Look at this jackhammer. Look how far back he starts it. Throw it back to the free throw line then come back and put it down.
“Jalen Smith, you have been posterised.”
Morant completed with 23 factors and 10 assists. He was one in all six Memphis gamers that had double-digit factors because the workforce thumped the Pacers 130-112.
The win leaves Memphis stage with Denver on the prime of the Western Conference with each groups at 29-13.
CELTICS AVOID EMBARRASSING LOSS
Jayson Tatum scored 33 factors because the Boston Celtics overturned a double-digit deficit to increase their lead on the prime of the NBA Eastern Conference on Saturday with a 122-106 street victory over the lowly Charlotte Hornets.
The Celtics entered the sport closely favored to report their sixth straight victory in opposition to a Hornets workforce propping up the convention desk with simply 11 wins.
But Boston had been startled by a assured first-half efficiency from Charlotte, who at one stage surged right into a 16-point lead at 58-42 halfway by means of the second quarter.
Boston trimmed the hole to only 4 factors at halftime, with Charlotte main 66-62, Then the Celtics lower unfastened in a devastating burst of scoring after the break.
The Celtics outscored Charlotte 33-19 within the third quarter to show the sport on its head and maintained a snug cushion by means of the ultimate quarter.
Malcolm Brogdon had 30 factors for Boston, whereas Al Horford added 16 and Marcus Smart 13.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets’ problem with 31 factors.
HEAT POUNCE ON GIANNIS-LESS BUCKS
Gabe Vincent scored 27 factors and snaffled 5 steals because the Miami Heat took full benefit of the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to attain a 111-95 defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
Miami prolonged their successful streak to 3 video games after dominating Milwaukee virtually from the outset to safe a win which noticed Erik Spoelstra’s facet enhance to 24-20 within the Eastern Conference standings.
Vincent was one in all 5 Heat gamers in double figures, with Victor Oladipo and Bam Adebayo catching the attention with 20 factors every.
Adebayo hauled in 13 rebounds with two assists whereas Jimmy Butler added 16 factors in his 26min 35sec on court docket on the Miami-Dade Arena.
Nigeria worldwide Vincent, who re-signed with Miami in 2021 after going undrafted in 2018, credited “perseverance” together with his newest spectacular exhibiting which adopted 28 factors in a win over Milwaukee on Thursday.
“Just keep going. It’s been a long road, an untraditional route (into the NBA),” Vincent informed ABC tv in on-court remarks after the win whereas praising his teammates.
“My guys are getting me open, and I’m finally knocking down some shots — that always helps.”
Miami, who had been crushed within the NBA Finals in 2020 and who reached the Eastern Conference finals final yr earlier than shedding in seven video games to Boston, at the moment are inside hanging distance of the automated playoff locations in seventh place.
Vincent in the meantime says enhancing defensively can be essential to Miami’s probabilities within the second half of the season.
“We’ve got to get back to being a defensive team like we know we can be,” Vincent stated.
Milwaukee in the meantime struggled to construct offensive stress in opposition to Miami within the absence of Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Two-time MVP Antetokounmpo was dominated out early Saturday with a knee grievance. Bobby Portis led the Bucks scorers with 15 factors whereas Jrue Holiday was restricted to 12 factors.
— with AFP
NBA SCORES TODAY
Milwaukee Bucks 95 – MIAMI HEAT 111
BOSTON CELTICS 122 – Charlotte Hornets 106
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 130 – Indiana Pacers 112
ATLANTA HAWKS 114 – Toronto Raptors 103
Cleveland Cavaliers 102 – MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 110
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 118 – Utah Jazz 117
Dallas Mavericks – Portland Trail Blazers
