LeBron and Ja battle each other in a showdown between generations

  flurry between LeBron James and Ja Morant h characteristics of two boxers tring punches with some showmanship ded for flair.

Late in second quarter of Memphis Grizzlies' 131-114 victory over Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, two stars from different generations showed why y are leers of ir teams. James expressed appreciation for battle between two and what Morant brings to league.

“ energy alone. inspiration that he gives to younger generation alone is huge for our league,” James said of Morant.

Near end of first half, Morant and James went at it, exchanging baskets, each using “too small” sign after scores in fray. Morant got a technical foul at one point in battle as crowd grew louder with each basket. A good representation of Lakers fans in FedExForum balanced cheering Grizzlies faithful.

re was a hook from Morant and an ensuing free throw for a 3-point play with 1:24 left in half. n James' 8-foot jumper 20 seconds later. Ar layup by James, followed 7 seconds later by ar jumper by Morant that one Grizzlies' guard so fired up that he earned technical.

“I think I did ‘too small’ to somebody who was too small,” Morant recalled. "He came back and did it respectfully. ...He did it, and I don't back down from body. I don't care who you are.

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

But James put exchange in category of mutual respect, and two of league's top players doing ir best to be better than or, roots of which going back to first time y picked up a basketball.

“Just two guys from inner city who love to compete,” James said of battle with Morant. “That's how we all grew up, playing on blacktop, playing outside, competing at a high level when re were cameras around.”