Video: Rudy Gay literally throws it down on the Sixers
No phone booth, no cape, no theatrics or set pieces. Just the shot clock winding down, a lightning step to get around one of the league's most gifted perimeter defenders in Andre Iguodala(notes), a hell-bent-for-leather drive to the lane and an insane display of athleticism to elevate and finish. (And, of course, a little bit of luck to keep that fastball from clashing with unkind iron and rattling out.) He might not be worth every penny of the five-year, $82 million contract he inked last offseason, but when he turns in plays like this, Rudy Gay's(notes) darn sure worth the price of admission.
Gay's righteous dunk (or non-dunk, or vicious layup, or whatever we decided things like this should be called after Dwight Howard(notes) went Kal-El in the '08 Slam Dunk Contest) cut the Philadelphia 76ers' lead over the Memphis Grizzlies to two late in the fourth quarter. He then hit a tough shot in traffic to put the Grizzlies up for good. Memphis scored 42 fourth-quarter points, doubling up the Sixers in the frame to erase a 16-point deficit and notch a 99-94 win that brings the Grizz within one victory of .500 for the season.
Gay finished with 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Zach Randolph(notes) led Memphis with 22 points and 12 rebounds, posting his 13th consecutive double-double and his 33rd of the season. Jrue Holiday(notes) and Jodie Meeks(notes) each scored 16 for Philly, who lost despite hitting 13 of 20 attempts from downtown.
International readers ("Int'l read'rs"): If the clip above isn't rocking for you, please feel free to peruse the aggressive heave courtesy of our friends at Get Banged On.
