Ja Morant's highlight-reel chase-down block leaves both Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers in awe
LOS ANGELES - Jaa Morant keeps scaling new heights. In Sunday's 127-119 win over the Lakers, the debutant Memphis Grizzlies star's climb was quite literal, as Morant's two-handed chase-down block on Lakers guard Avery Bradley made both teams amazing in the game.
"It's probably the best block I've ever seen live," said Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. "Probably the best block I've ever seen, period. That was crazy."
Near the midpoint of the first quarter, with Memphis' opening 12-9 lead, Bradley deflected a Morant pass and made a steal off the back half court, giving himself a fast-forward finish at the other end. Got a break opportunity.
Only Morant had other plans.
The third-year guard ran back over the defense and caught Bradley from behind, leaping out of the restricted area to catch Bradley's lay-up attempt with both hands while the ball was still overhead.
Morant's head was near the rim as he controlled the ball's trajectory from the top of the square on the backboard, and he collected the ball once back on the court to spark the Grizzlies' fast break toward the second basket.
“Obviously, it starts with timing and just chasing your prey,” said LeBron James, who scored the most important chase-down block in league history in the closing minutes of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. "And that's exactly what Jaa was doing that whole drama, and I saw it happen.
"Didn't know he was going to do it that way, but his calf muscles rocketed, and it was a great play. It was a great play. Salute."
Morant, who sat outside the Grizzlies' win over the LA Clippers on Saturday with a pain in his left thigh, was feeling great on Sunday. He finished with 16 points, seven assists, five rebounds and of course that block.
"I just came back and made an incredible game," Morant said. "I was just trying to collect the ball. Most of the time on breaks like this, if you block it, they might have a player behind to catch the ball and lay it down. It was perfect for me.
"Now I'm probably all over the internet for this."
It was just another memorable moment in the individual highlight reel after Morant dropped 40 points in each of the team's first two meetings against the Lakers this season.
And it helped the Grizzlies to their ninth consecutive win, drawing them to the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings within a game of the Utah Jazz.
"It was a special game from a special player," said Lakers coach Frank Vogel. "I really don't know what else to say about that."
