Ja Morant celebrates with Usher, Tee Morant following game-winning layup in Game 5

Ja Morant is a budding superstar.

That much is clear following his 18-point fourth quarter and game-winning layup with 1 second left to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 111-109 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Tuesday’s Game 5.

Morant’s celebration began as Karl-Anthony Towns’ final heave fell short, with the third-year guard holding his hand up like a phone, as if he had called game.

Then Morant went over to his dad, Tee Morant, and music superstar Usher to continue the celebration.

The two were sitting courtside at Tee Morant’s usual seats; social media lit up with mentions of the resemblance between the two following a TV cameo of Tee Morant during last weekend’s Game 1.

Morant awoke the FedExForum crowd late in the third quarter with a thunderous dunk over Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley. Morant then took over the game in the final quarter, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:03 left. Anthony Edwards hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left.

That set up the game winner. Dillon Brooks’ bouncing inbounds pass found Morant, who drove left and finished a layup over Jarred Vanderbilt with a second left. Morant finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists on Tuesday.

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Apr 26, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Usher sits courtside next to Tee Morant during the first half of game five of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Sports

Morant struggled in Minnesota to score the ball but still recorded a triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in the Game 3 comeback win. Morant admitted after Saturday’s Game 4 loss that his right knee, for which he sat out nine games late in the regular season, was not 100%.

“I’m almost there,” Morant said. “It’s not an excuse, though. (Expletive) it, I’m playing.”

Morant is not only playing, but he’s led the Grizzlies on the brink of a series win. Memphis, up 3-2, can win the series on Friday in Minnesota.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant celebrates game-winning layup with Usher, Tee Morant