The Memphis Grizzlies took on the Chicago Bulls and came away with a resounding 142-131 victory in Chicago Saturday night. It was the second meeting between the two teams this season, and the away team won both games.
The Grizzlies closed the first quarter with an eight-point lead and never let up on the Bulls, leading by as many as 22 points.
Memphis did a much better job in this game of limiting turnovers (14) and getting points off turnovers (14), which has been an ongoing struggle this season. The Grizzlies are ranked last in the league with 18.29 turnovers per game.
Third quarters have been anathema to the Grizzlies this season, but Saturday night, they scored a season-best 45 points in the third period.
It was a great offensive night for the Grizzlies, with eight out of 10 players scoring in double figures. The team ended the night shooting 57% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc.
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic carried the Bulls on offense, putting up 29 and 26 points, respectively.
But Chicago had no answer for Scotty Pippen Jr., who finished the night with a career-high 30 points on 13 of 16 overall shooting and three of six from beyond the arc, to go along with 10 assists. Pippen has assumed the starting point guard role in the absence of Ja Morant, a role he handled with ease against the Bulls.
Rookie Jaylen Wells put up a career-high 26 points, and added four rebounds, and six assists. Wells shot ten of 14 from the field and six of 10 from three-point range. Wells is ranked second among rookies in points per game with 12.5.
Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while shooting seven of 15 overall and three of seven from beyond the arc.
Desmond Bane added 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, and Brandon Clarke put up 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
Jay Huff was the leading scorer off the bench with 14 points — shooting five-of-six from the field and a perfect three-of-three from three-point range. He added five rebounds.
Santi Aldama added 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, and Luke Kennard put up 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies return to Memphis to kick off a four-game homestand Monday night against the Portland Trailblazers. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
