In the video: Morant’s basket of victory from all angles
If you’re worried about what the NBA will look like when LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the old guys leave – Ja Morant gave you tonight (Monday to Tuesday) a reason to breathe a sigh of relief, relax in a chair and just have fun. The star led Memphis to a big 113: 114 over Phoenix, scoring a huge basket of victory 0.5 seconds to go.
First, the chain of events: Throughout the game Memphis led, including by a record 18-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but the reigning Western champion provided a big comeback and 5.1 seconds to go Devin Booker sniped off the arc to give it a first-game lead. The last ball, as mentioned, came to Morant – who penetrated the left, stayed in the air forever, changed hands and scored a particularly difficult layup on the face of Devin Booker on the way to the prestigious victory.
shittinnn meeee ???? https://t.co/eJYGOwiLEU
– Ja Morant (@JaMorant) December 28, 2021
“What did I think after a morning trio? I said to myself ‘Ja is going to score,'” the victory hero said at the end. “I like to be in stressful situations, I like to take on challenges. We tried to create danger. It was supposed to be my and Des’ move (Desmond Bain). To the basket – and that’s what I did. ”
Morant referred to the uniqueness of Memphis, which played without four players who are under the league’s corona protocol. “Everyone is ready when called by their name, we all have an underdog mentality, everyone on the floor is ready to fight at the highest level,” he said. “I’m glad a lot of people get to see how good my teammates are, what they are capable of doing. No matter who is absent, we are still fighting and managing to win a tough game against a great team. We need to be prepared, waiting for them to come back.”
“I feel like out there we are our best version,” Morant concluded. “When I was a kid, I was always told that good teams win at home and great teams win outside. We love it, and it’s even more fun when you win and send the crowd home angry.”
“I was suppose to fake a hand off and get a bucket, and that’s what I did.”@JaMorant speaks to @ brevinknight22 after the game-winner against the Suns. pic.twitter.com/5DOhBFpskD
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) December 28, 2021
“We tried to do a lot to stop him,” he said Kevin Young, Who filled in for Monty Williams on the lines, on Morant’s basket of victory. “Congratulations to him, but was a bit short in the media on defense.” Young also referred to the many changes the virus is making in the league: “You see what happens, you just prepare yourself for it mentally. Everyone goes through it, you have work to do and that’s the attitude of all of us.”
Morant – who finished with 33 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals – already stands at 23 points per game alongside 6.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 22 games and will try to continue the momentum against the Lakers on Wednesday as well. On the other hand, Boker led the Phoenix scoring with 30 points, but failed to prevent Phoenix from losing for the seventh and second straight season. The second in the West will try to recover against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
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