Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and Coby White powered the Chicago Bulls to a close 126-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, combining for 72 points and leading a determined comeback effort in the fourth quarter. LaVine scored 30 points, including 11 in the final period, as Chicago erased a 20-point deficit to secure their second win of the season.
Vucevic contributed 22 points and seven rebounds, while White added 20 points, displaying consistent shooting to complement LaVine’s late-game heroics. Josh Giddey added 12 points, eight assists, and 13 rebounds, including a crucial offensive rebound in the final seconds that helped secure the Bulls’ win.
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points, hitting 11 of his 19 attempts and six of 10 from beyond the arc, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jake LaRavia added 19 and 17 points, respectively. Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists, keeping the Grizzlies in contention until the final buzzer.
The game’s pivotal moment occurred with under nine minutes remaining, as the Bulls trailed 106-98. LaVine and Vucevic returned to the floor, fueling a 22-6 scoring run that turned the tide in Chicago’s favor. LaVine’s three-pointer during this stretch gave Chicago an eight-point advantage, sealing the Grizzlies’ fate despite their final efforts.
Both teams struggled with ball security early in the season, but Chicago demonstrated improvement by limiting turnovers to nine, while Memphis had 10. This efficiency allowed Chicago to capitalize on Memphis’s lapses and claw back into contention.
Chicago’s fourth-quarter defense proved critical, as they outscored Memphis 33-23 in the final period, applying consistent pressure and contesting shots effectively to disrupt the Grizzlies’ offense. Despite a well-balanced effort from Memphis, including strong rebounding with 60 boards, the Bulls’ scoring trio proved insurmountable in the clutch.
