Pelicans Big Man Jaxson Hayes Exacted The Sweetest, Swiftest Revenge On A Blocked Shot That You Will Ever See

Fernando Medina. Getty Images.

A couple of relative blowouts tipped off Tuesday evening's NBA action, but this Pelicans-Suns Game 2 proved to be well worth staying up for.

Just when you thought the craziest shit in this game transpired when Devin Booker went OFF for 31 first-half points…um…this exchange happened between Phoenix's Mikal Bridges and New Orleans' Jaxson Hayes that you have to see to believe:

You know when you're playing pickup, and somebody just swats the ever-loving shit out of you? Doesn't matter if it's with close friends or strangers — if you have a competitive bone in your body, you are fucking PISSED. Typically it's followed by committing a hard, gratuitous foul that gets everybody a little riled up. Or, you're crashing HAM into the paint on your next offensive possession and smashing a layup into the bottom of the rim. "Oh no," you think. "This only compounds the prior embarrassment." Pretty soon what was supposed to be an enjoyable recreational activity becomes dark and depressing.

Yeah well, that whole elaborate pickup scenario I just outlined doesn't apply to Jaxson Hayes. He's 21 years old. You'd forgive him any lapses in decorum on the unwritten rules of basketball after Bridges swatted his ass.

But no, Hayes went right back down to the other end, gathered himself, saw Bridges turn the corner and PINNED HIS LAYUP AGAINST THE BACKBOARD WITH BOTH HANDS. Hayes' elevation on that rejection was mind-boggling.

Hayes is still just 21 years old, and it's a crowded frontcourt rotation with Jonas Valanciunas, Brandon Ingram and even rookie stud Herb Jones on the wing. Once Zion Williamson returns, the opportunities for Hayes might dwindle. If he keeps making plays like this, though, it'll be hard to keep him off the floor.