If the stakes weren’t high enough already, Anthony Davis and Ja Morant made sure to turn the heat all the way up in the Western Conference play-in battle between the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, April 18.
The tension is off the charts. The trash talk? Absolutely elite. And the energy is playoff-level from the opening tip. In a game with everything on the line, one team moves on, the other goes fishing, and two of the league’s biggest stars brought the fire and the flex.
Anthony Davis and Ja Morant Trade Verbal Blows: ‘Come On’
Early in the first quarter, with emotions running high and momentum up for grabs, Dallas forward Davis and Memphis guard Morant gave fans an unforgettable moment. After a hard-fought possession, Davis looked Morant dead in the eye and barked, “I’ll guard you, though.”
Without hesitation, Morant fired back, “Yeah, come on!”
Anthony Davis trash talk with Ja Morant, during the game (with audio). pic.twitter.com/QXbwi0Ehj0
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 19, 2025
The two weren’t done either. Davis kept it going with, “You know I’m right here. You know I ain’t going nowhere,” repeating it like a mantra, getting in Morant’s head with every word.
Officials had to step in and separate the two. But for that brief exchange, the basketball world stood still, because this wasn’t just about buckets anymore, it was about pride.
Both stars backed up their bark with bite. Morant opened strong, dropping 12 points, three boards, and three dimes in the first quarter, including a ridiculous put-back that had fans out of their seats. Davis, not one to be outdone, put up eight points in the same span and looked locked in.
Through three quarters, the Grizzlies controlled most of the narrative, riding their early momentum to a 103-88 lead heading into the final frame. While Davis has had a monster night statistically, dropping 36 points, grabbing seven boards, and dishing two assists, Dallas hasn’t found a way to consistently slow down Memphis’ pace.
Morant hasn’t exploded in the scoring column the same way, but he’s been the engine for Memphis. He’s racked up 18 points, eight assists, and six rebounds through three quarters, orchestrating the offense and keeping defenders on skates all night long. And let’s not forget, he’s been dealing with an ankle tweak from earlier this week. You wouldn’t even know it watching him fly around the court tonight.
The winner of this intense clash will secure the final playoff spot in the West and earn the right to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 1, starting Sunday. Whether it’s Davis’ domination or Morant’s leadership that prevails, one thing’s for sure: this matchup gave us the edge, the drama, and the fire that fans live for.