Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant had a little more motivation heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and made it clear why.

“I don’t like them,” Morant said after scoring 20 points in a 131-114 win at FedExForum. “They knocked me out of the playoffs. And then last year we had a game and they came here and played it at our house while I was in street clothes. That wasn’t me tonight.”

Morant played only 24 minutes and left in the third quarter with a right hamstring injury. The Grizzlies did not have an update after the game.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first between the two teams since the penultimate game of the 2023-24 regular season, when James highlighted his 37-point performance with a breakaway dunk in the closing seconds of a 123-120 win at Memphis. Morant missed this game after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in January. Last year, the Lakers defeated the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, knocking them out in six games.

Morant hasn’t forgotten it, and he made it clear Wednesday night, particularly to James.

Toward the end of the first half, Morant and James got down to business, exchanging baskets, each using the “too small” gesture after points in the contest. Morant suffered a technical foul at one point in the contest as the crowd grew louder with each basket. A good representation of Lakers fans balanced out the cheering Grizzlies supporters.

There was a hook from Morant and a subsequent free throw for a three-point play with 1:24 left in the half. Then 20 seconds later, James managed an 8-foot jump. Another layup by James was followed by another jumper by Morant seven seconds later. That basket got Morant so worked up that he earned the technical.

“I think I did the ‘too small’ thing to someone who was too small,” Morant said afterward. “(James) came back and did it with respect. …He did it, and I don’t shy away from anyone. I don’t care who you are.”

“My job was just to come back. I got my bucket and called the shots. My teammates benefited from it and you see what happens. Leader in our league. You’re eliminating the leader you’re otherwise afraid of.” ?”

James placed the exchange with Morant in the category of mutual respect – only two of the best players in the league doing their best to be better than the other.

“Just two guys from downtown who love competing,” said James, who had a game-high 39 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. “That’s how we all grew up, playing on the asphalt, playing outside and competing at a high level when there were no cameras around.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.