Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris has been the Cerberus in charge of keeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in check. Primarily tasked with defending LeBron James, Morris is taking on all comers, even less heralded ones like Larry Nance Jr., who got a taste of his trash-talking ways during a Game 5 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night.
Morris denied an alley-oop play by deflecting the pass out of bounds before Nance could get to it, giving him a few choice words before sending him back past the stanchion, quickly walking away. Nance was quick to get up and shoved him in response, causing tempers to flare early in the second quarter, as the Celtics held a 36-19 lead over the Cavs.
Tempers flare in Boston š pic.twitter.com/2RC37TRczg
ā SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 24, 2018
āI canāt say that on the camera,ā Morris admitted, according to Nicole Yang of Boston.com.Ā āI definitely canāt say that on the camera, but it must have got to him, because he got up and he did his little whatever you want to call it.ā
Morris' fortitude isn't only taking on all comers defensively, but he's been known as a trash-talker andĀ an irritant at times, something Nance quickly has gotten to learn over the course of this series.
Both Morris and Nance were assessedĀ with technical fouls, along with Celtics point guard Terry Rozier, who took part in the altercation but denied any wrongdoing.
āI didnāt push nobody,ā Rozier told reporters, with a smile. āDid you see me push somebody? I donāt think I pushed nobody. Larryās my guy. Weāre both from Ohio.ā
Morris didn't pay the sanction any mind, considering just a part of the brand of playoff basketball he's expected to play in this series.
āIām just competing at a high level, man,ā he said. āIām blessed to be able to come out here and play in a game a such high magnitude, and hey, itās getting chippy. Itās the conference finals and Iām all in.ā
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