The Grizzlies traveled to Chicago to take on the Bulls for the second game of their four-game road trip.
The Grizzlies rolled out their 24th different starting lineup tonight as Xavier Tillman was ruled out before the start of tonight’s game. The first quarter was ugly. Memphis shot 30% and Chicago shot 35% from the field. 15 of the Grizzlies’ 20 shots in the opening period were from beyond the arc which is inexcusable for a team that ranks dead last in three-point percentage (34.2%). After one, the Bulls led 21-17.
The Bulls opened the second quarter on a 13-2 run and the Grizzlies looked lifeless until a David Roddy poster stopped the run. Kennard hit his second three and it seemed as if Memphis was finding some offense but things got stale quickly. The Bulls led 46-32 with 2:30 to go in the quarter but eight quick points from Memphis made it a single-digit game. DeMar DeRozan hit a driving layup as the first-half buzzer expired to make the score 50-40 in favor of Chicago.
The Grizzlies shot 41% from the field and 27.3% from three in the first half. From the first offensive possession, it was clear the second half was going to be different. Jackson took the ball to the hoop shoving off Vucevic with ease. Then it was Kennard lacing a three to cut the game to five. Kennard hit another and then found Vince Williams in the paint to make it a one-score game. The Grizzlies took the lead at 55-53 but the Bulls responded with force. Chicago unleashed a barrage of threes and within a blink, the Grizzlies were down 70-55. The Bulls continued to dominate the quarter and led 86-69 through three.
Any hope of a fourth-quarter comeback was dashed early. Memphis was unable to get a stop to cut into Chicago’s lead. The Bulls controlled the final period, winning 125-96.
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