Holding a 29-point lead wasn't enough during the third quarter for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, who decided to really toy with the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
The Grizzlies thrashed the Hornets 131-107 as Morant starred again, but perhaps his best play of the night occurred without even touching the ball. Morant recorded 23 points against the Hornets, as they moved 24-13 for the season.
It wasn't a great night for the Hornets, and with a 10-29 record, it hasn't really been their season either. But Morant really rubbed salt into their wounds by eating up 27 seconds of time through a clever loophole.
Morant is putting himself firmly in the MVP conversation this season, and proved his class yet again with a new tactic on Wednesday. Morant managed to waste 27 seconds of time on the game clock, while barely moving a muscle in the process.
What's more impressive, is that it didn't eat into any shot clock time, meaning that Hornets players were standing there watching on as Morant mocked them in the third quarter. With just under four minutes left in the third, an inbound pass rolled slowly in as the Grizzlies held possession.
The ball came to a rest inside the key at the Grizzlies end, and rather than grabbing it, Morant let it lie. As the Hornets players ran back to defend their goal, they looked on in shock as Morant stood over the ball and didn't move.
On an inbound pass, the shot clock doesn’t start until a player touches the ball. Morant clearly knew this rule, and took full advantage of it before a Hornets player finally challenged him.
This did take 27 seconds though, as Morant poured further misery on the Hornets. Although some have described his move as 'disrespectful', it's perfectly legal and demonstrated his understanding of the game.
The Hornets players may not have picked up on it, but the commentators certainly did. One announcer said: "Ja just wants a blow here.
"It’s been a lot of running back and forth, and you can do this – the ball hasn’t been touched. He, theoretically, could do this until midnight tonight," he added.
His co-star added: "I’ve never seen this. We’ve seen a lot of basketball – I don’t think I’ve seen this." It was certainly a moment of surprise for the Hornets, but they won't be sucked in to this trick again anytime soon.
