Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas got into it with Metu of the Sacramento Kings last night, and only avoided a technical due to official oversight.
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On Sunday night, the Sacramento Kings hosted the Ja Morant led Memphis Grizzlies team. The Grizzlies won the game 124-110, with a comfortable 14 point lead. But what happened during the dying minutes of the game was the highlight of the game.
With around 3:20 remaining on the clock, the Grizzlies had a comfortable 13-point lead. Nemanja Bjelica passed the ball to Chimezie Metu, who went to the baseline and hammered a monster dunk all over Grizzlies’ center Jonas Valanciunas.
While Metu had no place to land, Valanciunas hooked his left arm under Metu’s left leg and pulled him down, thinking Metu was taunting him.
When Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton was talking about the play post-game, he was surprised how the play wasn’t even considered as a flagrant foul. He said:
“Yes, that was a dangerous play. He hooked him by the leg and tried to throw him down. So I didn’t understand how that is not, in what today’s NBA is, is not even considered a flagrant foul. I don’t see how that’s a basketball play.”
Chimezie Metu dunks on Jonas Valanciunas then tries to ride on his shoulders. Jonas takes exception & gets a tech.
A minute later, Jonas dunks by Metu & puts his legs on Cory Joseph’s shoulders. pic.twitter.com/RKY2HVKcZN
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 15, 2021
‘We going to do the same thing they did to us’: Ja Morant to Jonas Valanciunas
Jonas Valanciunas had a brilliant performance despite the altercation. He recorded a 25-point and 13-rebounds double-double in the win.
Former Rookie of the Year Ja Morant said it is disrespectful to wrap his legs around another player. But, he told Jonas Valanciunas to do the same thing while also getting the win at the same time.
Ja Morant said he feels like Chimezie Metu got a little too excited after that dunk on Jonas Valanciunas.
Morant said it is disrespectful to a man to wrap your legs around him.
But he told JV, “We going to do the same thing they did to us and get the win at the same time!”
— Meghan Triplett (@Meghan_Triplett) February 15, 2021
The big man from Lithuania returned the favor by dunking the ball over Kings’ Corey Joseph. This season, Valanciunas has been averaging an impressive 16.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. With this win, the young Memphis Grizzlies have a record of 11 wins and 11 losses to place them on the 9th spot of the Western Conference.
