DETROIT _ Ja Morant took the pass near the top of the 3-point arc and turned to face Langston Galloway late in the fourth quarter Friday night.
The Detroit Pistons guard crowded Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies' point guard with supreme court vision, trying to limit options.
Jaren Jackson Jr. sprinted from the right to set a screen against Galloway.
The Pistons were trailing by seven as Markieff Morris, who was defending Jackson, switched on to Morant to prevent a quick path to the rim.
Jackson didn't hesitate.
With inside position, he sprinted to the rim where he caught a perfect lob pass from Morant _ a highlight alley-oop dunk to finish off the Pistons and garner more attention from fans and media.
"It's definitely taken some time (to develop chemistry), but I think they're actually growing a lot in this recent stretch," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said before the game. "I think there has been a lot of connectivity with how Ja has been able to find J.J. on the perimeter, getting J.J. more pick-and-rolls."
It was the first appearance of the NBA's newest dynamic duo at Little Caesars Arena, and they didn't disappoint.
Jackson, the former Michigan State basketball standout, scored 24 of 29 points in the first half. A modern big man, the 6-foot-11 forward was 4 for 8 from 3-point range in the Grizzlies' 125-112 victory.
Morant, the likely rookie of the year, didn't force the action, but had a masterful floor game with 16 points and 12 assists.
The Grizzlies _ only two seasons removed from their Grit and Grind era of success _ are fighting for a playoff spot on the backs of a young core comprised of Jackson, Morant, third-year guard Dillon Brooks and rookie Brandon Clarke.
Currently eighth in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies are among five teams within five games of the last playoff spot.
But Jackson and Morant _ both younger than 21 _ are the foundation because they occupy the two most important positions on the floor.
The Pistons have several young players under team control _ notably rookie Sekou Doumbouya, who has shown promise in the first 11 starts of his career.
But Pistons fans can't help feeling envious looking at the Grizzlies.
And for the tanking crowd, the Grizzlies are evidence that high draft picks provide the fastest route to buzz and winning.
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