Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Michael Jordan slapped Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk in the back of the head after a game-winning 3 pointer against the Detroit Pistons.
Monk didn't make the shot, but he did receive the "love tap" from "His Airness" in the fourth quarter of the Hornets' 108-107 victory on Wednesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The Hornets and Pistons were tied 106-106 when Jeremy Lamb hit a jump shot to give his team a two-point advantage. The ball fell in with less than a second remaining.
Monk was among several Hornets players to jump off of the bench in excitement. He also ran on the court. The players on the court resulted in a technical foul call. Langston Galloway stepped up to the line and made the lone free throw attempt for the Pistons.
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WHAT A SHOT! KEMBA FINDS JLAMB WITH THE @TISSOT BUZZER BEATER FOR THE 🔥WIN🔥!!! pic.twitter.com/hHzxqTyRMD
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 13, 2018
After the call, Monk stood near Jordan on the sideline. Jordan gave a brief lecture to the former University of Kentucky star before slapping the back of his head twice.
"I thought they were going to call like three technicals and they'd get three free throws," Lamb told reporters. "But no, looking back at it, it was funny. This man was all the way on the court so it's good they only got one free throw."
Lamb said he liked Monk's excitement.
"He wasn't out there trying to get no steal. He thought there wasn't any time left on the clock. He was celebrating."
Kemba Walker scored a game-high 31 points and had nine assists and eight rebounds in the win. Monk had seven points for the Hornets. Blake Griffin led the Pistons with 26 points. Griffin also had 10 rebounds and seven assists in the loss.