Deandre Ayton asserted his size early in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals Tuesday night with an alley-oop dunk in the first quarter.
Jae Crowder took a pass from E’Twaun Moore and lobbed it up for Ayton who came streaking into the paint and slamed it down over Los Angeles Clippers big man Ivica Zubac.
Jae Crowder to Deandre Ayton for the FEROCIOUS oop to get the @Suns crowd hyped!#NBAWCF presented by AT&T on ESPN pic.twitter.com/rQVBmsFTYI
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2021
The dunk shook Phoenix Suns Arena and got the attention of new Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt.
Put it on a Poster!!!! @DeandreAyton #RallyTheValley
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 23, 2021
To add insult to injury, Ayton was fouled on the play.
However, he missed the free throw attempt.
Ayton through one quarter of play had 12 points and five rebounds.
He caused headaches for the Clippers in the Suns’ Game 1 victory, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds while forcing the Clippers to abandon their small-ball offensive plan early.
The Suns center finished the opening 24 minutes with 12 points and six boards, as Phoenix took a 48-47 halftime lead over the Clippers into the locker room.