Refs Called out by Fans as Chris Paul Fouls out in Suns' Loss to Luka Doncic, Mavs
May 8, 2022
DALLAS, TX - MAY 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks smiles during the game against the Phoenix Suns during Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals on May 8, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Chris Paul has made a career out of taking over games in crunch time, but that's pretty hard to do from the bench.
That's exactly where Paul was for most of the fourth quarter and extended stretches of Sunday's Game 4 in the Phoenix Suns' Western Conference Semifinal series against the Dallas Mavericks. The future Hall of Famer picked up four fouls in the first half alone and fouled out with approximately nine minutes remaining, which cleared the way for Dallas to clinch the 111-101 victory.
It was not lost on social media that Luka Doncic and other members of the Mavericks were using some of the same embellishment tactics that Paul has throughout his career, and the officials were also not immune to criticism:
If I’m Chris Paul, I’m placing a check on the table before I start my postgame press conference and I’m going IN on this officiating. That last call was flat-out terrible.
I know the feeling. Wish I could’ve gotten a couple fouls back among others things. Foul trouble make you feel helpless. Can’t even compete the same. . This series has potential to go 7
As Luka just showed with these refs: Fall you get a call. No way in hell that contact from CP3 was enough to knock down a guy that much bigger than him. But NBA refs continue to incentivize this practice➡️ 🗑️
The foul that was just called on McGee is something else I’d like to see removed from the game. McGee was in great position, Brunson just fell. Why is falling always rewarded?
The series is now tied at two games apiece, although it wasn't only because of the whistles.
Doncic stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and four steals, while Dorian Finney-Smith provided critical secondary support with 24 points and eight boards behind 8-of-12 shooting from deep.
That Doncic received help from Finney-Smith, Jalen Brunson and even Davis Bertans was key because the Mavericks lost the first two games on the road when he averaged 40 points a night and then turned things around at home with the supporting cast playing at a higher level.
Whether that supporting cast continues to play well as the series shifts back to Phoenix for Tuesday's Game 5 could determine who advances to the Western Conference Finals.
Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry Weigh in on Jordan Poole, Ja Morant Video
May 8, 2022
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MAY 03: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 03, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant appeared to suffer a leg injury in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 142-112 Game 3 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He did not return, and his status moving forward is unclear.
After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters that Morant suffered the injury when Warriors guard Jordan Poole "yanked" at his knee. Meanwhile, Poole said after the game that "it was a basketball play," and he "was going for the ball."
“I was going for the ball. … I’m not even that type of player, I respect everybody. Hopefully he gets better, and we can see him out there next game.”
Klay Thompson defends Jordan Poole in a Klay sort of way: “I don’t think he’s strong enough to affect somebody’s knee. But we’re not out there trying to hurt people or club people in the back of the head on a fast break. We play the game the right way."
Warriors forward Draymond Green on the Grizzlies’ Jordan Poole accusation: “I’m not going to try to go tit for tat. We have a basketball game to win Monday.”
Morant finished with 34 points, three rebounds and seven assists before exiting the game.
The 22-year-old has been one of Memphis' best players all season, so there's obviously some cause for concern. That said, it's hard to imagine Poole was deliberately trying to hurt him.
It's unclear if Morant will play in Game 4 on Monday. If he's sidelined, the Grizzlies will face an uphill battle to get the series back to even following Saturday's loss.
Luka Doncic Praised for Refusing to Get Punked in Mavs' Game 3 Win over Suns
May 7, 2022
DALLAS, TX - MAY 6: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns during Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals on May 6, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks star point guard Luka Doncic was the target of the Phoenix Suns' offensive attack in the first two games of the Western Conference Semifinals.
After constantly getting scored on and enduring some ridicule from opposing players, Doncic responded in Friday's Game 3 with a hard-nosed performance to lead the Mavericks to a 103-94 win at American Airlines Center to cut the series deficit to 2-1. Doncic finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two steals.
Throughout the game, fans and analysts online were impressed with Doncic's toughness and how he bounced back from the first two games.
Luka fought back tonight. Dude ain’t no punk and you gotta respect that
Yeah but I’m not talking about the result of the game. I’m talking about Luka standing up to what the suns did to him on Wednesday night https://t.co/xX6WM0Q8HW
Dallas' supporting cast finally showed up to give Doncic some much needed help. Four other players scored in double figures, led by Jalen Brunson's game-high 28 points.
Doncic has never been questioned for his offensive prowess. He's definitely proved himself on that end with 106 combined points over the first three games of the series.
But it's taken some time for Doncic's defense to catch up to his offensive brilliance. While he still has a ways to go to be a consistently reliable defender, he's made massive strides on that end of the floor this year after head coach Jason Kidd challenged him to improve. His defensive effort paid off on Friday.
The Mavericks still face an uphill battle against the top-seeded Suns, the favorites to win the NBA title. But if Doncic can continue to play with the attitude he showed on Friday, Dallas will have a better chance at spoiling Phoenix's coronation.
Jason Kidd Says Mavs Need More Than Luka Doncic to Beat Suns: 'No One Else Showed'
May 5, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 04: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on May 04, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 129-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks are searching for answers in the Western Conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns after dropping their second straight game on Wednesday night with a 129-109 loss.
Speaking to reporters after Game 2, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said the players around Luka Doncic needed to step up their performance.
"He had a great game, but no one else showed," Kidd said. "We've got to get other guys shooting the ball better. We can't win with just him out there scoring 30 a night—not at this time of the year. And we're playing the best team in the league, so we've got to get other guys going."
Doncic has been doing his best to give the Mavericks a chance in their first two games against the Suns. He dropped 35 points (13-of-22 shooting), seven assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes in Game 2.
In Games 1 and 2 combined, Doncic has 80 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists. He's shooting 28-of-52 from the field, including 9-of-21 from three-point range.
Jalen Brunson has been the biggest disappointment for Dallas' non-Doncic players. The 25-year-old scored just nine points in Game 2 and is shooting 32.1 percent overall in the series thus far.
After a strong start to the postseason, Brunson's performance has fallen off a cliff in five games since Doncic returned to the lineup.
Jalen Brunson shooting without Luka this playoffs:
Brunson is hardly the only Mavs player struggling right now. Dorian Finney-Smith only attempted two shots in Wednesday's game. He tied a season-low with just two points.
This isn't to say that Doncic should be absolved of blame for how the Mavericks are playing. He has 12 turnovers through the first two games. The Suns averaged 1.72 points per possession on 50 attempts with Doncic as the primary defender in Game 2.
But Doncic's offensive output is so completely overwhelming everything the rest of his teammates are doing that someone needs to start making shots consistently to ease some of the burden on him.
Perhaps returning to American Airlines Center will make the Mavs feel more comfortable. They will host the Suns in Game 3 looking for their first win in the series on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Warriors' Stephen Curry Says Dillon Brooks' Foul 'Was Kind of Out of Line'
May 4, 2022
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) stands on the court in the first half during Game 1 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen
Curry said Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks was "kind of out
of line" when he fouled Dubs guard Gary Payton II from behind and
caused him to suffer a fractured elbow during Tuesday night's game.
The hard foul, which was called a
flagrant-2 upon review and led to Brooks' ejection, happened just
three minutes into Game 2 of the second-round playoff series.
"It was kind of out of line in
terms of a defenseless player going up for the layup and taking a
huge windup," Curry told reporters. "Everything bad that
could have happened in that situation did. Knocked him out of the
game."
The two-time NBA MVP also appeared to
take a subtle shot at the officials' decision to eject teammate
Draymond Green in Game 1 when comparing the two fouls.
"Talk about flagrant-2s...it was
definitely one of those," Curry said.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who
played 15 NBA seasons, added Brooks broke one of the sport's most
important unwritten rules with the hard, high challenge from behind.
"I don't know if it was
intentional, but it was dirty," Kerr said. "There is a
code. This code that players follow where you never put a guy's
season [or] career in jeopardy by taking somebody out in midair and
clubbing him across the head, ultimately fracturing Gary's elbow. ...
He broke the code. Dillon Brooks broke the code."
The NBA hasn't announced whether Brooks
will face any additional discipline.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins
didn't want to delve too much into the situation after his team's
106-101 win that leveled the series at one game apiece.
"They reviewed it," Jenkins said. "They made their judgment, obviously [Brooks] made contact to the
head. So going to trust what the refs did."
Last week, Memphis' third-year coach was fined
$15,000 for public criticism of officials during the team's
first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As for the game itself, Ja Morant took
over with 47 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals
in 41 minutes. No other Grizzlies player scored more than 14 points.
Curry led the way for Golden State with
27 points, while Jordan Poole continued his breakout stretch with 20
points off the bench.
Game 3 of the physical series is set
for Saturday night at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Ja Morant Says He Couldn't See out of Left Eye in 4th Quarter of Game 2 vs. Warriors
May 4, 2022
MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 3: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals on May 3, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies superstar guard Ja Morant had compromised vision during the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 106-101 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday night.
While speaking to the media after the game, Morant said he could not see out of his left eye during the fourth quarter:
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant says he couldn’t see out of left eye while scoring final 15 points of Game 2 win over Warriors: “I’ve got another good eye over here. 20/20 vision right here. Thank God for my right eye.” pic.twitter.com/BzyJPwoU5p
Despite that, Morant scored the Grizzlies' final 15 points and led all scorers with 47 points overall.
It is unclear precisely what happened to Morant's eye, but ESPN's Kendra Andrews reported that he could be heard saying, "I can't see," while heading to the bench at the end of the third quarter.
Andrews added that Morant apparently got hit in the eye at one point.
All told, Morant had 18 of his 47 points in the fourth quarter on 6-of-11 shooting in a game Memphis had to have.
The second-seeded Grizzlies fell 117-116 to the No. 3 Warriors in Game 1 of the series, and a loss in Game 2 would have put them well behind the eight-ball against a team with plenty of championship experience.
Making Morant's performance even more impressive was the fact that he did so without the support of the team's second-leading scorer, Dillon Brooks.
Brooks was ejected from the game just three minutes into the opening quarter after being assessed a flagrant-2 foul that resulted in Warriors guard Gary Payton II falling to the court and fracturing his elbow.
Aside from Morant, no other Grizzlies player had more than 14 points, which highlighted Morant's ability to put the team on his back in a huge moment.
If the Grizzlies are going to eliminate the Warriors and move on to the Western Conference Finals, they will need more similar showings from Morant, who is playing his best basketball of the season.
The 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year is averaging 26.3 points, 10.1 assists, 8.6 rebounds. 1.9 steals and 1.6 three-pointers made in eight playoff games.
Golden State has some players capable of getting hot and scoring at will, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, but if Morant continues on his current trajectory, the Grizz will be a tough out.
Steve Kerr: Dillon Brooks 'Broke the Code' on Play That Injured Gary Payton II
May 4, 2022
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) fouls Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) in the first half during Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Brooks was ejected from the game as a result of the foul. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had some strong opinions on the play by Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks that resulted in an injury to Warriors guard Gary Payton II early in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series Tuesday.
Kerr said Brooks "broke the code" by committing a play so dangerous that it put Payton on the shelf:
Steve Kerr goes in on Dillon Brooks for what Kerr called a dirty play that “broke the code” between players where you never put a players season/career in jeopardy. pic.twitter.com/FMFVuzm0lg
Brooks was assessed a flagrant-2 foul and ejected, while Payton suffered a broken left elbow on the fall.
Memphis won the game 106-101 and evened the series at 1-1.
Superstar Warriors guard Stephen Curry also made his feelings known regarding Brooks' hard foul.
"It was kind of out of line in terms of a defenseless player going up for the layup and taking a huge windup," Curry said. "Everything bad that could have happened in that situation did. Knocked him out of the game. ... Talk about flagrant-2s, it was definitely one of those."
As a result of the play, both teams lost key players for the remainder of the game, but Memphis overcame Brooks' absence best.
While injuries limited Brooks to 32 games during the regular season, he was the Grizzlies' second-leading scorer, averaging 18.4 points per contest.
With Brooks out, Ja Morant scored a game-high 47 points. Only three other Grizzlies players scored in double figures, and the second-leading scorer was Ziaire Williams with 14 points.
Payton isn't often talked about because of the presence of Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and others in Golden State, but he has been integral to the team's success this season.
The son of Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton is perhaps the Warriors' best defender and led the team with 1.4 steals per game. He also set career highs with 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest.
With Payton out, Jonathan Kuminga and Damion Lee saw a slight bump in minutes, while Curry, Thompson and Wiggins all played at least 38 minutes.
As of Wednesday morning, it was unclear when or if Payton would return this postseason and whether Brooks would be suspended for the foul.
Game 3 between the Warriors and Grizzlies will take place Saturday at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
LeBron James, Fans Awed by Ja Morant as Grizzlies Beat Steph Curry, Warriors
May 4, 2022
MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 3: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies cheers during Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals on May 3, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ja Morant, your spot at the NBA superstars' table is ready.
The 22-year-old phenom put on a show while leading his Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-101 victory over Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series Tuesday. The series is tied at one game each after No. 12's masterpiece.
It appeared the Warriors would steal both games in Memphis when Curry banked in a three to put them up four in the final five minutes, but Morant responded by scoring 15 consecutive points for his team to clinch the victory.
Included in that flurry was a step-back three-pointer, a move that left Jordan Poole falling to the ground and multiple clutch free throws.
He had LeBron James and seemingly everyone else in awe on his way to 47 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and three steals:
JA so damn tough!!!! There's no way Ja should even have been in MIP talks. This guy is a flat out ⭐️ and always have been!! Real basketball 🧠s know. Not the majority of dweebs who don't even watch basketball on those voting ballots.
Golden State fought through some adversity, as Gary Payton II was ruled out with an elbow injury he suffered on a Dillon Brooks flagrant-2 foul after just three minutes. Draymond Green also needed stitches and returned with a badly swollen eye.
While they battled through those setbacks, along with Curry and Klay Thompson's combined 5-of-23 shooting from three-point range, they couldn't overcome Morant's flurry that sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling Game 3 on Saturday.
Windhorst on Zion Williamson Contract Talks: I Don't Think Pelicans Offer 5-Year Max
May 3, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on April 28, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson says he'd sign a max contract extension if the New Orleans Pelicans offered one.
Whether they're willing to do so is another question entirely.
"I don't think they're offering a five-year max," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast (11-minute mark). "... I don't think they're going to want to guarantee the full five years. I think they'll come into it not wanting him to have a player option. In other words, it will be a five-year contract and we'll have protection. And they'll want to haggle over what constitutes the protection."
Williamson is eligible to sign an extension this summer that could pay him up to $223 million if he makes an All-NBA team next season. Should he fail to make an All-NBA team, the max would top out at around $185 million.
While the Pelicans wouldn't hesitate to pay a healthy version of Williamson any number, we're yet to see him get through a full NBA season without injury. He missed the entire 2021-22 season while recovering from offseason foot surgery and has played just 85 total games in three seasons.
"Obviously, that conversation is going to be one that will be a challenge," Pelicans president of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters of a Williamson extension. "When it's time to have that, we'll have it. And right now what we're focused on is him being healthy, and [being in] kind of elite condition to play basketball and we'll start there."
The Pelicans could look at the five-year, $148 million extension signed by Joel Embiid in 2017 as a way to give themselves protection. Embiid's rookie-scale extension had clauses that protected the team in case of injury, and it was signed after the center had played in only 31 NBA games.
New Orleans has a slightly larger sample of Williamson's dominance than the Sixers did Embiid, but the financial implications are also a little higher. It would likely be smart of Williamson to sign any contract that guarantees him a nine-figure payday, even if it's slightly below the full max or comes with playing-time incentives.
If he goes through the rest of his career healthy, it's likely he'll take only a small financial hit in exchange for generational long-term security.
NBA Rumors: Mavs Confident Jalen Brunson Will Sign New Contract in 2022 Free Agency
May 3, 2022
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 28: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates a play during the second half of Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 28, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks reportedly expect guard Jalen Brunson to re-sign with them in free agency this offseason.
According to Tim Cato of The Athletic, sources within the Mavs have expressed "confidence" that they will be able to keep Brunson on the heels of his career year.
Cato noted that since the Mavs aren't likely to have any salary-cap space during the next two offseasons, they wouldn't have any way to adequately replace Brunson, making re-signing him a massive priority.
The 25-year-old Brunson has spent his entire four-year NBA career in Dallas, and the 2018 second-round pick has progressively gotten better with each season.
After spending most of his first three seasons as a bench player, Brunson started 61 of the 79 regular-season games he appeared in this year.
He also put up career-best numbers, averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 three-pointers made per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Brunson has been even better during the playoffs, averaging 25.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.7 three-pointers made in seven postseason contests.
Dallas was without superstar guard Luka Doncic for the first three games of its first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz, and Brunson had a field day, particularly in Game 2 when he had a playoff career high of 41 points.
Brunson did not score fewer than 23 points in any of the Mavericks' six first-round playoff games against the Jazz, which is a big reason Dallas advanced.
While Doncic makes the Mavs go and will do so for many years to come, Brunson is the closest thing Dallas has to a second star, especially after the in-season trade of Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards.
Re-signing Brunson almost seems like a necessity if the Mavericks want to remain in contention, but they won't be without competition.
Per NBA insider Marc Stein (h/t HoopsHype), the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers will both have significant salary cap-space during the offseason and are known to have interest in Brunson.
Stein noted that the New York Knicks are also interested, although they would have to do some maneuvering in order to make room for him financially.
Stein also noted that Brunson could command in the neighborhood of $80 million over four years, which is something few teams can afford to offer.
The Mavericks can do so if they choose, however, since they own Brunson's Bird rights.
There is nothing Dallas can do if Brunson simply decides he wants to play elsewhere, but given how much the Mavs need him and how impressively Brunson has grown as a player in Dallas, there should be some common ground to get a deal done.
