DeAndre Jordan with the dunk of the year?

By Melissa Rohlin

March 11, 2013 7 AM PT

On Sunday evening, DeAndre Jordan’s name was trending on Twitter, the Clippers’ center was leading the NBA with the most mentions per hour on NBA.com, and NBA superstars were tweeting about him.

It happened after Jordan sprinted down the middle of the lane, caught a lob while he was midair and dunked the ball hard with his right hand (which happens to be his “off-hand”), posterizing Detroit Pistons’ point guard Brandon Knight, who decided to contest the play and ended up flat on his back.

Tweeted LeBron James: “DeAndre Jordan!!!! Dayyyuummmm!! Dunk of the year #littletikeshoop.”

Tweeted Austin Rivers: “Just want to say to @espn , Deandre Jordan’s dunk tonight better be the dunk of the year. Goodness Gracious. ... Game breaker! #dunkoftheyear”

Wrote Nick Young: “@deandrejordan a man you dnt dunk on nobody like that dog lol #Watt.”

After the dunk, Jordan made a free throw to complete the three-point play. That sequence kept Twitter abuzz for hours afterward, with fans praising Jordan and expressing their condolences to Knight, many tweeting variations of “RIP” to the point guard.

One person even updated Knight’s Wikipedia page to say: “On March 10, 2013 Knight died in a game vs the Los Angeles Clippers. The cause of death was determined to be DeAndre Jordan.”

Jordan’s dunk follows another Clippers’ highlight reel play last week, which featured Jamal Crawford dishing a through-the-legs lob to Blake Griffin, who slammed the ball home with a windmill dunk.

Yes, the Clippers are living up to their nickname, Lob City. The only question that remains is which of their many jaw-dropping dunks this season will be crowned the best of the year.

Let’s just say that we know which one Griffin is voting for.

Said Griffin of Jordan’s dunk after the Clippers’ 129-97 over the Pistons: “That was the best dunk of the year. That was the best dunk I’ve seen in person.”

ALSO:

D’Antoni wants Dwight Howard on the floor at end of games

Watch Jamal Crawford’s through-the-legs lob to Blake Griffin

Lakers move into playoff position with third consecutive victory