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Clippers' Marcus Morris ejected after drilling Ja Morant in face in loss to Grizzlies

Clippers forward Marcus Morris was ejected from Los Angeles' game against the Memphis Grizzlies after he hit Ja Morant in the face while Morant was on his way up for a dunk.

Morris, in the third quarter of L.A.'s 135-109 loss at FedExForum, went to contest a Morant dunk attempt up at the rim. Instead of hitting the ball, Morris’ right hand connected directly with Morant’s face, which sent Morant sprawling to the court.

Marcus Morris Sr. of the Los Angeles Clippers
Marcus Morris tried to get up to defend a dunk at the rim, but ended up hitting Ja Morant right in the face. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Morris was assessed a flagrant 2 foul, and immediately ejected. He finished the night with three points and four rebounds while shooting 1-of-6 from the field.

"That's a dangerous play," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said, via SBNation's Parker Fleming. "The refs reviewed it and made the correct call."

The Clippers trailed for nearly all of the contest Tuesday night outside of a brief lead in the opening minutes before the Grizzlies cruised to the 26-point win. Morant led Memphis with 30 points and seven rebounds while shooting 12-of-19 from the field, and Jaren Jackson dropped 26 points with 11 rebounds.

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The Grizzlies shot better than 51% from the field as a team, and held the Clippers to 19 points in the third period. Memphis has won six of its past seven.

Norman Powell put up 16 points for the Clippers, and Reggie Jackson added 12 in the loss. They were the only two starters to score in double figures. Isaiah Hartenstein led the team with 19 points and seven rebounds while shooting 7-of-11 from the field off the bench. The Clippers have lost three of their last four.