Tempers flared in the third quarter of Monday's clash between the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns at FedEx Forum, thanks to rookie Cam Spencer. Spencer hit a huge three-pointer over Kevin Durant at the end of the period and then talked some trash to him afterward. Durant took offense to it, and a scuffle soon broke out on the court.
Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane came to his rookie's defense when Durant started pointing and yelling at him. Bane got into the 15-time All-Star's face, and a tense exchange ensued.
Durant then shoved Bane to get away from him, but the war of words continued. Eventually, coaches and officials got between the players and diffused the situation. It's unclear what exactly Spencer said to get on Durant's nerves, and he wasn't interested in revealing what he said in his postgame interview.
"No, that stays on the court," Spencer said. "Not good for TV."
Durant's reaction made it rather obvious that whatever was said was not suitable for television. Both men were slapped with technical fouls for this incident, but Spencer won't be paying the fine that comes with it. Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant revealed he'd be taking care of that fine for the rookie.
Spencer, who is on a two-way contract after being selected with the 53rd pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, certainly appreciated the gesture. The fine would have burned a hole in the 24-year-old's pockets, but he won't have to worry about that.
This game against the Suns was only Spencer's 13th in the NBA, and the fact that he still talked trash to someone like Durant speaks to his confidence. He also ended up having the best game of his short career here, finishing with 16 points (5-9 FG), three rebounds, one assist, and three steals.
Spencer scored the Grizzlies' last two points on the night from the line, and they ended up being the difference in the game, as the hosts won 120-118. They improved to 41-24 this season with the win and are fourth in the Western Conference.
As for the Suns, they dropped to 30-35 despite Durant's best efforts. The 36-year-old impressed with 35 points (11-24 FG), five rebounds, five assists, and a block on the night but did miss a potential game-winning three-pointer in the dying moments to ensure the Suns suffered another brutal defeat.
Kevin Durant Spoke On The Grizzlies' Chippiness
Games involving the Grizzlies tend to get chippy from time to time. Their players love to run their mouths, and Durant was asked postgame about the chippiness on display.
"I mean, they got a lot of underdogs," Durant said. "... Kinda overachieved and made the league and made the rotation. So, they play with a chip on their shoulders, and I can respect that. That's how Cam Spencer got on the court... You come to Memphis, you've got to match their energy if you want to stay in the game, and that's the type of energy that I love to display. It was a fun game."
Durant would probably love to see the Suns play with the kind of energy that the Grizzlies do. They are very much trending downward at the moment, and you don't see any light at the end of the tunnel.
The Suns will be in action next against another Western Conference heavyweight in the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday at 8 PM ET. A second-straight defeat is very much on the cards.
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