Scotty Pippen Jr. delivered a standout performance with a career-high 30 points and 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Chicago Bulls 142-131 on Saturday night. Memphis improved to 10-7 this season with the win.
Pippen Jr., playing in the same arena where his father’s jersey hangs, dominated early, scoring 26 points in the first three quarters.
Jaylen Wells contributed 26 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 23 for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Memphis controlled the boards, outrebounding Chicago 49-35.
The Grizzlies led 109-98 heading into the final period and extended their lead with an 8-3 run early in the fourth quarter. Jay Huff and Luke Kennard’s timely three-pointers in the third quarter helped Memphis maintain a double-digit advantage.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 29 points, 26 of which came in the second half, while Nikola Vucevic added 26 points and eight rebounds.
Despite their strong shooting from beyond the arc, going 19-of-42 (45.2%), the Bulls couldn’t overcome their defensive struggles.
Chicago struggled to recover from a slow start, managing only 22 points in the first quarter and trailing for the rest of the game. Their shooting from the field was 50.5%, but Memphis’s offensive efficiency outpaced them with 57.3% accuracy.
Memphis continued to excel despite the absence of Ja Morant, improving to 5-3 during his time out with a hip injury. The Grizzlies also played without key players like Marcus Smart and GG Jackson II, relying on depth contributions from their bench.
The Bulls’ roster was also shorthanded, with Lonzo Ball and Patrick Williams among the players sidelined due to injuries. Matas Buzelis and Talen Horton-Tucker provided solid bench scoring with 14 and 10 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
The victory solidifies Memphis’s position in the Western Conference as they look to continue their momentum. Chicago, now 7-11, will need to address its defensive lapses to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
