104 — 100
Jerome and Edey set the pace
Memphis established the terms early. Ty Jerome drilled two first-quarter step-back threes, Jaylen Wells added another from deep and Zach Edey scored twice at the rim as the Grizzlies jumped to a 15-6 lead before the game was four minutes old.
Chicago steadied itself and even nudged in front late in the opening quarter, but Memphis had the cleaner finish. GG Jackson hit from 24 feet with 1:02 left in the period, then added two free throws to help the Grizzlies carry a 30-27 edge into the second.
The same pattern returned at the start of the second. Matas Buzelis cut the deficit to a point, then Memphis answered through Cameron Boozer and Jerome. Boozer completed a three-point play, Jerome scored from 10 feet, Boozer finished a dunk, and Jerome struck again from long range as the Grizzlies rebuilt breathing room. By halftime, Memphis had a 60-50 lead and had already received 16 points from Jerome, 10 from Boozer and 10 from Edey.
Chicago’s best surge came in the third
The Bulls produced their strongest stretch after the break. Edey opened the third-quarter scoring to make it 62-50, but Chicago then pieced together the game’s sharpest comeback. Norman Powell scored inside and from three, Caleb Wilson knocked down a pair of triples, Josh Giddey supplied points at the line, and the Bulls turned a 12-point hole into a 73-67 lead with 5:52 left in the quarter.
That was the moment Memphis had to answer, and it did. Jackson stopped the slide with a basket, Quinten Post scored on a layup, and Javon Small changed the rhythm with a 25-foot three. Karim Lopez followed with back-to-back layups, Cam Spencer scored twice, and Kris Murray buried a three that pushed the Grizzlies back in front. Spencer’s fadeaway with five seconds left sent Memphis to the fourth quarter ahead 85-82 after Chicago had briefly seized control.
Every late Bulls push met a reply
The final quarter never became comfortable. Wilson hit again from deep to cut the margin to 91-87, then Chicago drew within three once more on consecutive threes from Patrick Williams and Jalen Bridges. Each time, Memphis found a stabilizing possession. Small answered with a layup, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper added a dunk that restored a six-point cushion at 100-94.
Chicago still had one more run. Drew Peterson hit from 28 feet to make it a three-point game, Small scored with 1:07 left for a five-point edge, and Wilson buried a 26-footer with 55.2 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 102-100. Memphis then protected the lead at the line and closed out the four-point result.
Our take: Chicago earned extra chances, but Memphis made better use of its shots
This game is a useful reminder that extra possessions do not automatically become enough offence. Chicago won the rebound battle 43-40, grabbed 16 offensive boards and attempted 40 free throws. Those are usually the numbers of a team that can survive a mediocre shooting night. The Bulls could not quite do it because the shooting gap was too large: Memphis finished 36-for-76 from the field, while Chicago ended 30-for-80 and left 12 points at the free-throw line.
Wilson gave the Bulls real shot-making with 21 points, and Powell added 17 with a steady parade to the stripe. Leonard Miller’s 12 points and 11 rebounds also mattered, especially on the offensive glass. But Chicago recorded only 19 assists, and too many of its scoring pushes still required difficult individual finishing rather than a steady stream of clean half-court baskets.
Memphis, by contrast, spread the work around. Jerome’s 16 points came in just 14 minutes and set the tone. Jackson added 14, Edey scored 10 on 3-for-3 shooting, Boozer had 10 points and three assists, and Small supplied one of the most complete stat lines of the night with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. The Grizzlies also produced 25 assists, 50 points in the paint and a 17-8 edge in fast-break scoring.
The caution for Memphis is obvious enough. A team that turns it over 22 times will keep inviting opponents back into games, and that is exactly what happened here. For Chicago, the path forward looks simpler than the final margin suggests: keep the work on the glass, but pair it with better finishing. The Bulls generated enough opportunities to make this result flip if the shooting and free throws rise even modestly.
Scoring moments
- 1st Quarter · 11:48
Cedric Coward makes 1-foot two point shot (Cameron Boozer assists)
- 1st Quarter · 11:23
Matas Buzelis makes 11-foot driving floating jump shot (Tobe Awaka assists)
- 1st Quarter · 11:03
Jaylen Wells makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ty Jerome assists)
- 1st Quarter · 10:20
Ty Jerome makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 1st Quarter · 9:55
Zach Edey makes 1-foot layup (Jaylen Wells assists)
- 1st Quarter · 9:43
Norman Powell makes free throw 1 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 9:43
Norman Powell makes free throw 3 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 9:07
Josh Giddey makes 5-foot driving floating jump shot
- 1st Quarter · 8:29
Zach Edey makes two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 8:02
Ty Jerome makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 1st Quarter · 6:54
Josh Giddey makes 1-foot two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 6:54
Josh Giddey makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Quarter · 6:38
Cameron Boozer makes 1-foot driving dunk (Cam Spencer assists)
- 1st Quarter · 6:38
Cameron Boozer makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Quarter · 6:11
Scotty Pippen Jr. makes driving layup
- 1st Quarter · 6:06
Matas Buzelis makes two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 5:21
Jerami Grant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 5:21
Jerami Grant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:43
Leonard Miller makes driving layup
- 1st Quarter · 4:25
Jerami Grant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:25
Jerami Grant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:12
Dailyn Swain makes dunk (Buddy Hield assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:31
Isaac Okoro makes two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 2:59
Buddy Hield makes 2-foot two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 2:19
Buddy Hield makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 1st Quarter · 1:59
Dailyn Swain makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:59
Dailyn Swain makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:40
Zach Edey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:18
Isaac Okoro makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:18
Isaac Okoro makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:02
GG Jackson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ty Jerome assists)
- 1st Quarter · 28.3
GG Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 28.3
GG Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4.1
Noa Essengue makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 11:38
Matas Buzelis makes 8-foot pullup jump shot (Tobe Awaka assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 11:12
Cameron Boozer makes 7-foot two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 11:12
Cameron Boozer makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Quarter · 10:59
Josh Giddey makes 25-foot three point jumper (Norman Powell assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 9:29
Zach Edey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 9:29
Zach Edey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 9:14
Ty Jerome makes 10-foot step back jumpshot (Cameron Boozer assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 8:40
Cameron Boozer makes driving dunk (Ty Jerome assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 8:23
Ty Jerome makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cameron Boozer assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 8:04
Norman Powell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 8:04
Norman Powell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 7:47
Ty Jerome makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 7:47
Ty Jerome makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 7:34
Norman Powell makes 1-foot two point shot (Josh Giddey assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 7:10
GG Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 6:10
Cameron Boozer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 6:10
Cameron Boozer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 4:38
Caleb Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 4:16
GG Jackson makes 2-foot two point shot (Cam Spencer assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 3:50
GG Jackson makes driving dunk (Cam Spencer assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 3:33
Leonard Miller makes layup (Dailyn Swain assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 3:12
Jerami Grant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 3:12
Jerami Grant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 3:05
Leonard Miller makes floating jump shot (Dailyn Swain assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 3:04
Leonard Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 2:48
Jerami Grant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 2:15
Leonard Miller makes 24-foot three point jumper (Josh Giddey assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 1:55
Jerami Grant makes driving layup (Ty Jerome assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 1:33
Noa Essengue makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 1:33
Noa Essengue makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 56.3
Zach Edey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 44.4
Norman Powell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 31.1
Ty Jerome makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Quarter · 22.4
Norman Powell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 22.4
Norman Powell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 11:39
Zach Edey makes dunk (Kris Murray assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 11:16
Norman Powell makes 4-foot two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 10:44
Norman Powell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Isaac Okoro assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 10:26
Isaac Okoro makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 10:06
Jaylen Wells makes 25-foot three point jumper (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9:53
Caleb Wilson makes 25-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter · 9:14
Caleb Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 8:23
Jaylen Wells makes two point shot (Kris Murray assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 8:09
Caleb Wilson makes 8-foot two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 7:40
Caleb Wilson makes 27-foot three point jumper (Josh Giddey assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 7:16
Josh Giddey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 7:16
Josh Giddey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 6:16
Norman Powell makes free throw 1 of 3
- 3rd Quarter · 6:16
Norman Powell makes free throw 2 of 3
- 3rd Quarter · 6:16
Norman Powell makes free throw 3 of 3
- 3rd Quarter · 5:52
Caleb Wilson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Norman Powell assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 5:36
GG Jackson makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 4:42
Quinten Post makes running layup (Javon Small assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 4:22
Noa Essengue makes 8-foot two point shot (Leonard Miller assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 3:40
Dailyn Swain makes dunk (Leonard Miller assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 3:31
Javon Small makes 25-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter · 3:11
Karim Lopez makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter · 2:40
Karim Lopez makes layup (Javon Small assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 2:19
Cam Spencer makes two point shot (Kris Murray assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 1:49
Kris Murray makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cam Spencer assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 1:17
Josh Giddey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 1:02
Leonard Miller makes running layup (Buddy Hield assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 5.0
Cam Spencer makes 12-foot fade away jump shot
- 3rd Quarter · 0.5
Josh Giddey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 0.5
Josh Giddey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 11:14
Quinten Post makes layup (Jahmai Mashack assists)
- 4th Quarter · 10:58
Caleb Wilson makes 1-foot layup (Dailyn Swain assists)
- 4th Quarter · 10:49
Taylor Hendricks makes dunk (Jahmai Mashack assists)
- 4th Quarter · 10:06
Walter Clayton Jr. makes 2-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter · 9:45
Caleb Wilson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dailyn Swain assists)
- 4th Quarter · 9:26
Taylor Hendricks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
- 4th Quarter · 8:02
GG Jackson makes driving layup (Javon Small assists)
- 4th Quarter · 7:43
Patrick Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper (Isaac Okoro assists)
- 4th Quarter · 6:36
Jalen Bridges makes 25-foot three point jumper (Isaac Okoro assists)
- 4th Quarter · 6:07
Javon Small makes layup (GG Jackson assists)
- 4th Quarter · 5:24
Jalen Bridges makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 3:37
Olivier-Maxence Prosper makes 1-foot running dunk (Taylor Hendricks assists)
- 4th Quarter · 2:46
Drew Peterson makes 28-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter · 1:07
Javon Small makes two point shot (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
- 4th Quarter · 55.2
Caleb Wilson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Brandon Boston Jr. assists)
- 4th Quarter · 0.7
Javon Small makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 0.7
Javon Small makes free throw 2 of 2
Memphis Grizzlies — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedric Coward | 12 | 2 | 1-4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +19 |
| Cameron Boozer | 12 | 10 | 3-5 | 0-1 | 4-4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | +17 |
| Jaylen Wells | 14 | 8 | 3-5 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -8 |
| Zach Edey | 16 | 10 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 4-6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | +15 |
| Ty Jerome | 14 | 16 | 5-8 | 4-6 | 2-2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +16 |
| Jerami Grant | 12 | 9 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 7-8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -10 |
| Kris Murray | 16 | 3 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Olivier-Maxence Prosper | 16 | 2 | 1-5 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -22 |
| Taylor Hendricks | 11 | 5 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +6 |
| GG Jackson | 17 | 14 | 5-9 | 1-3 | 3-4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Karim Lopez | 14 | 4 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +10 |
| Quinten Post | 17 | 4 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -11 |
| Carson Cooper | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 |
| Scotty Pippen Jr. | 12 | 2 | 1-6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -6 |
| Cam Spencer | 16 | 4 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +2 |
| Jahmai Mashack | 7 | 0 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 |
| Javon Small | 14 | 9 | 3-8 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +3 |
| Walter Clayton Jr. | 15 | 2 | 1-6 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -11 |
Chicago Bulls — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matas Buzelis | 12 | 6 | 3-6 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -19 |
| Caleb Wilson | 32 | 21 | 7-17 | 5-11 | 2-6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -18 |
| Tobe Awaka | 24 | 0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -4 |
| Norman Powell | 19 | 17 | 3-6 | 1-2 | 10-12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +3 |
| Josh Giddey | 23 | 13 | 3-7 | 1-3 | 6-7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -7 |
| Drew Peterson | 7 | 3 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +2 |
| Patrick Williams | 10 | 3 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Isaac Okoro | 23 | 5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | +25 |
| Jalen Bridges | 8 | 4 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +3 |
| Leonard Miller | 23 | 12 | 5-11 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Noa Essengue | 19 | 5 | 1-6 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +3 |
| Buddy Hield | 17 | 5 | 2-7 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -6 |
| Brandon Boston Jr. | 4 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dailyn Swain | 18 | 6 | 2-6 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +1 |
Memphis Grizzlies — Team statistics
| FG | 36-76 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 47 |
| 3PT | 10-31 |
| Three Point % | 32 |
| FT | 22-26 |
| Free Throw % | 85 |
| Rebounds | 40 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 9 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 31 |
| Assists | 25 |
| Steals | 13 |
| Blocks | 2 |
| Turnovers | 21 |
| Team Turnovers | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 22 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 12 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 |
| Points in Paint | 50 |
| Fouls | 29 |
| Largest Lead | 14 |
| Lead Changes | 4 |
| Percent Led | 88 |
Chicago Bulls — Team statistics
| FG | 30-80 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 38 |
| 3PT | 12-34 |
| Three Point % | 35 |
| FT | 28-40 |
| Free Throw % | 70 |
| Rebounds | 43 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 16 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 27 |
| Assists | 19 |
| Steals | 9 |
| Blocks | 4 |
| Turnovers | 16 |
| Team Turnovers | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 17 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 12 |
| Fast Break Points | 8 |
| Points in Paint | 34 |
| Fouls | 22 |
| Largest Lead | 6 |
| Lead Changes | 4 |
| Percent Led | 8 |