Towards the end of the game, Ja Morant ensures the Memphis Grizzlies win against the Nets

Ja Morant stopped near the free throw line and made a mid-range jumper as the halftime buzzer sounded against the Brooklyn Nets at FedExForum.

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

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

Fernandez stared 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 skirmish explanation

A total of six technical fouls were assessed 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 and celebrated. Since he was turned toward Brooklyn’s bench, the Nets didn’t take kindly to it.

Fernandez turned to the referees and Nets guard Dennis Schröder approached him at the same time as Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and others.

Schröder and Jenkins exchanged words, which led to their technical fouls.

As for Morant, he just had fun baiting the Nets.

“I was trolling,” Morant said. “Just to upset them, and that’s what it did.”

“If ‘yes’ is disrespectful or evokes any feeling, then so be it,” he later said.

It wasn’t that easy for the Nets.

Fernandez called it “disrespectful” when opposing players spoke to coaches during a game. Schröder seemed to agree.

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

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

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

Santi Aldama gets angry

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

A surprised Aldama quickly approached the referee and sought an explanation. After the game he explained that he and the referee had different views on what he had said leading up to the technical.

Aldama reacted violently as he stormed onto the bench. When the game started again, he looked like a different player.

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

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Towards the end of the game, Ja Morant ensures the Memphis Grizzlies win against the Nets

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