Dillon Brooks exchanges words with LeBron James -- 'I poke bears'

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Dillon Brooks exchanged words with LeBron James during the third quarter of the Memphis Grizzlies' series-tying 103-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Wednesday's Game 2 and had plenty more to say about the NBA's all-time leading scorer postgame.

The confrontation occurred after the Grizzlies called a timeout with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter, following two baskets by James to cut the Lakers' deficit to 14 points. Brooks, who has earned a reputation as one of the league's elite wing defenders and most relentless antagonists, said James told him he was «dumb» for having picked up his fourth foul and barked back at him.

«I don't care — he's old. You know what I mean?» Brooks said of the 38-year-old James. «I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40.»

James, who had 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting and 12 rebounds in the loss, had finished his postgame media session before Brooks' began.

The only player to score 40 against the Grizzlies in a game Brooks played this season was Portland's Damian Lillard.

James' teams have won 10 of 13 games when he has faced Brooks in his career, but James' high scoring total in those games is 34 points. James has averaged 25.2 points on 52.2% shooting in the 11 regular-season games.

Brooks, who had 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting and was limited to 23 minutes because of foul trouble, felt like James initiating trash talk was an indication that he was frustrated. Brooks added that he hopes James wants to talk again in Game 3 and as the Western Conference first-round series