Shamet punches dunk on Pelicans’ Hayes, who is ejected minutes later

Landry Shamet went from three-point savant to dunking dynamo.

The Phoenix Suns backup shooting guard started the first-round series against the New Orleans Pelicans out of the rotation, but upon Devin Booker going down with a hamstring injury in Game 2, Shamet has emerged as an aggressive rim-rocker.

He had already taken two baseline drives for dunks in the past few days but then raised the bar even more in the first-half of Game 3 on Friday, which Phoenix won 114-111.

Shamet raced down the court off a New Orleans turnover. Despite the athletic Jaxson Hayes closing on him, Shamet opted to punch one, drawing the foul on Hayes in the process.

THAT'S A LANDRY SHAMET POSTER! pic.twitter.com/lJgpPsjrG6

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 23, 2022

LANDRY SHAMET! HOW?! 🤯😳 pic.twitter.com/6y5qaQOBQW

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 23, 2022

Hayes was involved in two altercations after the play. Immediately after Shamet’s slam, Hayes and Mikal Bridges had words as the officials broke up a minor gathering of players.

Jaxson Hayes trucksticks Jae Crowder pic.twitter.com/ag5P69sfMY

— Playoff Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) April 23, 2022

Minutes later, referees went to the replay screen after Hayes pushed Suns forward Jae Crowder on a rebound attempt. Hayes was given a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected, while Crowder earned a technical for reacting. Hayes left with four points and six rebounds.

It appeared to act as a turning point for a Suns team that had struggled to show the same pop displayed in the dominant first half of a Game 1 victory.

Phoenix went on a 16-5 run after Hayes’ ejection to lead 59-48 at halftime.

It was led by Deandre Ayton, who had 28 points, 17 rebounds and three steals by the end of the night. Chris Paul matched him with 28 points — 19 coming in the fourth — and added 14 assists.

And for those of you keeping count of Shamet’s big plays of late, here are his other two contested dunks over the past two games.

Landry Shamet rising up! 😤 pic.twitter.com/Ghu2JqTVAX

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 23, 2022

LANDRY SHAMET pic.twitter.com/rqo9ypadXs

— Khiz (@KhizHoops) April 20, 2022

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