In a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied at 2-2, the Memphis Grizzlies showed no quit in another comeback victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In what was one of the most thrilling games of the playoffs, there was no shortage of must-see highlight-reel plays, all the way down to the final two possessions of the game.
The Grizzlies trailed by 11 points going into the fourth quarter but Ja Morant's poster dunk of the playoffs revitalized the All-Star into turning his game up a notch in the fourth quarter.
Ja Morant is a created player 🎮#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on TNT pic.twitter.com/PsN55wcIzE
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2022
Before that dunk, Morant had just 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting from the field and the Grizzlies were trailing by 13 points, in danger of having to go back to Minnesota with their season on the line for Game 6.
After that dunk, Morant was recharged and ready to take over in the fourth quarter.
The superstar elevated his play to another level in the final frame, bringing the Grizzlies all the way back with a chance to win the game.
The Timberwolves weren't going to give it away that easily, though. Trailing by three points with under 10 seconds to play, head coach Chris Finch drew up the perfect inbounds play to free up young star Anthony Edwards for an open 3-ball.
ANTHONY EDWARDS TIES IT UP!@Timberwolves 109 | @memgrizz 109
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2022
3.7 remaining in Q4 pic.twitter.com/6EGbs6L1PE
That two-handed bounce pass from Jordan McLaughlin... beautiful.
But Morant wasn't going to let the comeback slip away that easily.
With one shot to win the game, Morant took advantage of a bad gamble from Edwards and got downhill, elevating for a smooth lefty layup to win the game in the final seconds.
JA MORANT IS UNREAL!
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2022
The @memgrizz win Game 5! pic.twitter.com/h7setPIvTp
Morant stepped up in a huge way in the fourth quarter, going for 18 points in the final frame to carry the higher-seeded Grizzlies to a 3-2 lead in the series.
This was the second time they overcame a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter, becoming the first team in NBA history to accomplish that feat twice in the same series.
The Timberwolves now have the odds stacked against them, as teams that win Game 5 of a 2-2 best-of-seven series go on to win the series 82.8% of the time.
The series will head back to Minnesota for Game 6 on Friday, April 29.