LeBron James was happy to be competing against Ja Morant again, even though there was some testy moments on the court.

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 131-114 on Wednesday night at FedExForum. James had 39 points in the losing effort, while Morant finished with 20 before he left the game with a hamstring injury.

Things got heated in the second quarter when Morant, 25, scored on Lakers guard Gabe Vincent and signaled the "too small" gesture. James, who turns 40 in December, returned the favor against Morant after scoring on the other end, directing the gesture at him.

On the next trip down, Morant scored, then bumped James in the back and picked up a technical foul.

James, however, spoke positively about his rival after the game.

"The energy alone, and the inspiration that he gives to the younger generation is huge for our league, and it's great to have him back out there for sure," he said.

Grizzlies-Lakers games for the past two seasons have been full of drama. The teams met in the playoffs in 2023, with the Lakers winning in six games. Last season, James sealed a late-season win with a dunk and then posed in front of a group of injured Grizzlies on the bench, including Morant and Desmond Bane.

James said Wednesday's moment with Morant was nothing more than regular competition.

"Two guys from the inner city that love to compete," James said (though Morant grew up in a small town in South Carolina). "We all grew up playing on a blacktop, playing outside and competing at a high level when there was no cameras around, it was a bunch of just s--- talking going on and playing the game. That's what the essence of the game is all about."

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: LeBron James praises Ja Morant after Grizzlies vs Lakers game