WATCH: Anthony Davis and Ja Morant Gentle Up Play-In Recreation With Heated Trash Speak

If the stakes weren’t excessive sufficient already, Anthony Davis and Ja Morant made positive to show the warmth all the way in which up within the Western Convention play-in battle between the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, April 18.

The strain is off the charts. The trash speak? Completely elite. And the power is playoff-level from the opening tip. In a sport with the whole lot on the road, one group strikes on, the opposite goes fishing, and two of the league’s largest stars introduced the fireplace and the flex.

Anthony Davis and Ja Morant Commerce Verbal Blows: ‘Come On’

Early within the first quarter, with feelings working excessive and momentum up for grabs, Dallas ahead Davis and Memphis guard Morant gave followers an unforgettable second. After a hard-fought possession, Davis regarded Morant useless within the eye and barked, “I’ll guard you, although.”

With out hesitation, Morant fired again, “Yeah, come on!”

Anthony Davis trash speak with Ja Morant, throughout the sport (with audio). pic.twitter.com/QXbwi0Ehj0

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 19, 2025

The 2 weren’t achieved both. Davis stored it going with, “You already know I’m proper right here. You already know I ain’t going nowhere,” repeating it like a mantra, getting in Morant’s head with each phrase.

Officers needed to step in and separate the 2. However for that temporary change, the basketball world stood nonetheless, as a result of this wasn’t nearly buckets anymore, it was about delight.

Each stars backed up their bark with chew. Morant opened sturdy, dropping 12 factors, three boards, and three dimes within the first quarter, together with a ridiculous put-back that had followers out of their seats. Davis, not one to be outdone, put up eight factors in the identical span and regarded locked in.

Via three quarters, the Grizzlies managed many of the narrative, using their early momentum to a 103-88 lead heading into the ultimate body. Whereas Davis has had a monster night time statistically, dropping 36 factors, grabbing seven boards, and dishing two assists, Dallas hasn’t discovered a method to constantly decelerate Memphis’ tempo.

Morant hasn’t exploded within the scoring column the identical approach, however he’s been the engine for Memphis. He’s racked up 18 factors, eight assists, and 6 rebounds by way of three quarters, orchestrating the offense and retaining defenders on skates all night time lengthy. And let’s not neglect, he’s been coping with an ankle tweak from earlier this week. You wouldn’t even realize it watching him fly across the court docket tonight.

The winner of this intense conflict will safe the ultimate playoff spot within the West and earn the proper to face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in Spherical 1, beginning Sunday. Whether or not it’s Davis’ domination or Morant’s management that prevails, one factor’s for positive: this matchup gave us the sting, the drama, and the fireplace that followers dwell for.