Late-game layup, Ja Morant sparks Memphis Grizzlies win vs. Nets

On By Littum

Yes Morant stepped up near the free throw line and made a mid-range jumper as the halftime signal went off at FedExForum against Brooklyn Nets.

Morant, in a groove as the Memphis Grizzlies extended their lead, headed toward the Nets’ bench area, where his celebratory antics were not well received.

“Yes!” The Grizzlies star shouted as he passed right next to Nets coach Jordy Fernandez.

Fernandez glared at Morant as the Grizzlies guard walked by.

That sequence set the tone for a later confrontation in the Grizzlies’ 135-119 victory.

Memphis (18-8) won its first game against Brooklyn (10-15) in three meetings.

Morant led the Grizzlies with 28 points and 10 assists.

Late game progression explained

A total of six technical fouls were handed out on Friday. Three of them came with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter.

As Morant prepared to leave the game, he clapped his hands in celebration. When he was turned in the direction of Brooklyn’s bench, the Nets didn’t take too kindly.

Fernandez turned to the refs, and Nets guard Dennis Schröder walked up along with Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and others.

Schröder and Jenkins exchanged words, leading to their technical errors.

As for Morant, he was just having fun baiting the Nets.

“I was trolling,” Morant said. “Just to get them fired up, and it did.”

“If ‘yes’ is disrespectful or makes you feel a certain way, then hey, so be it,” he later said.

For the Nets, it wasn’t that simple.

Fernandez called it “disrespectful” for opposing players to talk to coaches during a game. Schröder apparently agreed.

“I respect (trash talk), but I just don’t respect it if you win and go to Coach’s face,” Schröder said. “… Respect the game when you win. Win with some class. I didn’t appreciate it.”

The Grizzlies side felt their talk was warranted. After Memphis built a 17-point lead in the third quarter, Brooklyn cut it to seven.

“They were talking when it was quiet at one point, so it was just louder,” Jaren Jackson Jr. said. “They kind of ran, they had something to say. It’s cool, man. It’s basketball. I feel like if you don’t talk, you don’t do anything.”

Santi Aldama gets angry

Emotions were also high for Santi Aldama. The Grizzlies forward received a technical foul with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

A surprised Aldama quickly walked towards the referee, looking for an explanation. After the match, he stated that he and the referee had different views on what he said that led to the technical.

Aldama reacted forcefully as he sat up on the bench. When the game was restarted, he looked like a different player.

Aldama scored the next seven points for the Grizzlies. He finished with 20 points and six rebounds.

Morant and Jenkins both said an angry Aldama is a good thing for Memphis. After his amazing performance, Aldama agreed.

“My dad always told me when I’m upset, I play my best basketball, and I think that’s what happened,” Aldama said.

Damichael Cole is the one Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.