The Memphis Grizzlies took care of the Los Angeles Lakers 131-114 in the FedExForum on Wednesday night. Seeing LeBron James and Ja Morant on the court at the same time together for the first time in a while was a refreshing sight to fans on its own, but extra theatrics took over.
During the game, Morant and James exchanged some unsubtle “too small” gestures after scoring.
After scoring in the paint against Gabe Vincent, Ja Morant bent down to put his hand just above the floor, holding it for several seconds longer than what the taunt typically calls for.
On the following possession, James came down on the other end banking a shot off the glass against Morant of all people. He repeated the same motion as Morant, this time touching the floor with the palm of his hand but not holding on as long.
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In the following play, Morant hit a similar shot against LeBron and immediately came up to bump him. Morant received a technical foul.
The LeBron James And Ja Morant Beef Is Reel
This is Morant’s first matchup against the Lakers in some time but still holds animosity from their heated postseason exchange from a couple of years ago.
“I don’t like them,” Morant said. “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.”
Lakers coach JJ Reddick did not make specific comments on the interaction, leaving his media availability early.
Los Angeles, dropping to 4-4, is set to take on the banged-up Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.