Morant emboldened after beating Lakers: 'I don't like them'

Ja Morant didn't mince words after the Memphis Grizzlies' 131-114 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I don't like them," Morant said Wednesday night, according to ESPN. "They knocked me out of the playoffs. And then last year we had a game, and they came here and popped it on our home floor when I was in street clothes. I wasn't tonight."

The two-time All-Star didn't play in the teams' last matchup, a 123-120 Grizzlies loss at FedEx Forum in April. LeBron James threw down a breakaway dunk toward the end of that game to cap off a 37-point performance. Morant was sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury. L.A. also beat Memphis in the first round of the 2022 playoffs.

Morant went at James and the Lakers on multiple possessions toward the end of the first half Wednesday, and each star made a "too small" gesture after scoring. The Grizzlies guard was also given a technical foul.

"I think I did the 'too small' to somebody who was too small," Morant said afterward. "(James) came back and did it respectfully. ... He did it, and I don't back down from nobody. I don't care who you are."

Morant added, "My job was to just come back. I got my bucket, and I set the tone. My teammates fed off of it, and you see what happens. Top dog in our league. You take out the top dog, who else you fear?"

The 25-year-old scored 20 points in the victory but left in the third quarter due to a hamstring injury.

James chalked the exchange up to competitiveness.

"Just two guys from the inner city who love to compete," James said. "That's how we all grew up, playing on the blacktop, playing outside, competing at a high level when there was no cameras around."