CHICAGO — In an impressive performance, Scotty Pippen Jr. scored a career-high 30 points and contributed 10 assists, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 142-131 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday evening.
Jaylen Wells added to the offensive effort with 26 points as the Grizzlies secured their second consecutive win. Pippen, playing in the arena that honors his Hall of Fame father with a retired jersey, had an outstanding night, scoring 26 of his points in the first three quarters. Memphis has now won three out of its last four matches.
As they closed out the third quarter with a 109-98 lead, Memphis opened the final period with an 8-3 run to extend their advantage. Jaren Jackson Jr. supported the team with 23 points, while Santi Aldama contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Memphis had a solid performance, holding a 64-60 lead at halftime and dominating the boards with a 49-35 advantage over the Bulls.
Despite the loss, the Bulls saw standout performances, particularly from Zach LaVine, who scored 29 points—26 of which came in the second half. Nikola Vucevic also had a strong showing with 26 points and eight rebounds.
Key insights from the game include Memphis’s record of 5-3 while Ja Morant remains sidelined due to a hip injury. On the other hand, the Bulls had emphasized increasing their 3-point attempts this season but could not capitalize on their shooting, finishing with a 45.2% success rate from beyond the arc (19 of 42).
A pivotal moment came midway through the third quarter when Memphis, leading 91-84, hit back-to-back three-pointers from Jay Huff and Luke Kennard, which propelled their lead into double digits and necessitated a timeout by the Bulls. Chicago managed to cut the deficit to under ten points only twice for the remainder of the game.
The Bulls struggled with their shooting efficiency, finishing with only 37% from the field and managing a mere 22 points in the first quarter, allowing Memphis to establish a lead they would not relinquish.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, while the Bulls are set to visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.