DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Clippers forward Marcus Morris denied that he intentionally stepped on Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic's sprained ankle in Game 5 Tuesday night.
In the third quarter of the Clippers 154-111 win, Morris ran in Doncic's direction, as the guard was waiting for an inbounds pass after a made basket. As Morris comes up behind Doncic, his left foot lands on the back of Doncic's left foot, causing Doncic's shoe to come off.
I play this game with a level of respect for myself and other players. To think I would try to injure somebody is crazy to me," Morris said in a Tweet after the game. "10 years going against the best. I stand on morals and hard work. I compete and leave it out there every game.
Morris followed that tweet up with another, saying he has nothing to apologize for.
“Basketball has never been that serious to try to hurt somebody,” he added in his next tweet. “I’m not apologizing for (expletive) because I know what I put into this game day in and day out. It was a mistake deal wit [sic] it. Competing is why I play.”
When asked if he believed it was intentional Doncic was skeptical.
"I have my own thoughts," said Doncic, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN. "I hope it wasn't intentional. Tell me what you think."
When asked further about Morris, who's defended him for much of the series, Doncic said he wasn't interested in speaking with him.
"I don't want to talk to him," Doncic said. "He's just saying a lot of bad stuff to me all the game. I just don't want to talk to him. I just want to move on. Like I say, everybody is going to have their own opinion. I just hope it wasn't intentional. If that was intentional, that's really bad."
Morris has had a history of infractions on and off the court, which the NBA may take into consideration when determining whether he'll face a penalty for this latest act.