There’s no love lost between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, who face off for the second time this season on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET) ESPN).

The two sides memorably matched up in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, with the Lakers prevailing in six games. The series was headlined by the interactions between LeBron James and then-Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks. However, the bad blood between the Western Conference foes started earlier.

James and Desmond Bane engaged in trash talk during a January 2022 game, with James yelling at the Memphis guard, “That’s your last motherly time. That’s the last time you disrespect me.”

It made for a viral moment, but more than two years later, every possible bad history seemed to be in the rearview mirror. At least, that’s how it seemed until last week.

Memphis defeated Los Angeles at home 131-114 and the beef percolated slightly. Here’s a look back at the bad blood between the two sides during the November 6 match.

Yes and LeBron exchange gestures

Ja Morant is often in the middle of a feud with the Lakers. Playing his first game against the team since last January, he was ready to make noise.

After scoring against Gabe Vincent near the end of the first half, Morant erupted in the “too small” celebration. One possession later, James responded with his own version of celebration after scoring over Morant.

The Grizzlies star recalled the moment and trolled James on X with a GIF that ended with someone showing an “L.”

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Bane finds a way to bully James

Bane didn’t use the oblique injury that kept him out of the match as an excuse not to shoot James.

Former Lakers guard Scotty Pippen Jr. played a key role in Memphis’ victory with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. He also blocked James late in the fourth quarter.

While being interviewed by the Grizzlies broadcast after the game, Bane jumped in and made a disparaging reference to Pippen’s defensive play.

‘Do you see how he took that ball from that old man over there? About that old man over there?’ Bane said, emphasizing the ‘old man’.

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Yes, keep it candid after the game

When asked what it was about this Lakers team that turned Morant on, he simply said, “I don’t like them.” He further explained his reasoning, referencing the 2023 series and a game late last season.

“They knocked me out of the playoffs,” Morant said. “And last year we had a game, and they came here and threw it on the floor of our house when I was wearing street clothes. Tonight I wasn’t.”

The two-time All-Star pointed to a 123-120 Lakers victory in the penultimate game of the regular season. After a late steal, James made a reverse dunk and landed right in front of Morant. The two chatted briefly before James chuckled on his way back to the Lakers bench.

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James rejects any bad blood

The back-and-forth between Morant and James was nothing more than what the essence of basketball is, according to the Lakers star.

He pointed to the “too small” interactions as “two inner-city guys who like to compete with each other.”

“We all grew up playing on the tarmac, playing outside and competing at a high level when there were no cameras around. It was a bunch of just talking and playing the game,” he said.

With Morant out this week against the Lakers due to injury, it is unclear how he will contribute to the next chapter in this growing rivalry between Western Conference opponents.