It is not just Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns who are squaring off in the Western Conference Playoffs as their beloved fathers also want a piece of the action.
Ja's father, Tee Morant, and KAT's dad, Karl Towns Sr., are friends in real life, but that did not stop them from trading some trash talk during Game 1 of the First Round clash between the Wolves and the Grizzlies, according to a report by the Commercial Appeal.
The two dads had some friendly banter during the final minute of the series opener, which Minnesota won, 130-117, over Memphis on Saturday, April 16, at FedExForum. The patriarchs were caught by the ESPN broadcast joking and embracing on the sidelines, with the two laughing their hearts out during their brief interaction.
Tee Morant tells ESPN viewers that he wants all the smoke
Tee faced the camera after the meeting with his friend, telling the viewers ''No smoke. We ain't ducking no smoke. Memphis, Memphis, Memphis!" If that message sounded familiar, it is because it was used by Ja Morant earlier in the season and just before the playoffs started.
Friendly trash talk between KAT and Ja's dads 😂 pic.twitter.com/lEk16CZr5p
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2022
When asked about Minnesota guard Patrick Beverley's penchant for talking trash, Morant said, "We ain't ducking no smoke. We run up the chimney. It's simple as that. Ain't no conversations about not letting nobody get under your skin. Somebody come towards you, can't back down. That's a soft person tendency. We don't got no soft guys over here."
The Grizzlies, who entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference, came into the first round as the favorites to win the matchup against the Wolves, according to Sports Illustrated. Minnesota proved to be a tough nut to crack in Game 1, though, as they displayed their poise and toughness to immediately steal homecourt advantage in the series.
Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns deliver the goods in Game 1
Morant did not disappoint his father with his performance on Saturday, scoring 32 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the field in Game 1. He had a brilliant all-around showing, dishing out eight assists, grabbing four rebounds, and recording one steal in 35 minutes of action.
Unfortunately for Morant, that performance was not enough as the Wolves came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. The Wolves, who are coming off a thrilling 109-104 come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in tournament, stunned the Grizzlies in Game 1 with five of their players scoring in double-figures.
ESPN reported that Anthony Edwards had a scintillating playoff debut, scoring 36 points on 12 of 23 shooting from the floor. He knocked down 4 of his 11 three-point attempts and made all eight of his free throws.
Karl-Anthony Towns also made his father proud, racking up a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds. He was highly efficient in Game 1, making 11 of his 18 field goal attempts.
