The new-look Memphis Grizzlies aim to push the tempo for a full 48 minutes. While that’s not always realistic with rotating lineups, it becomes even harder when one of the best point guards in the league is sidelined. Ja Morant missed Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to thigh soreness, and the Bulls came back to edge out the Grizzlies, 126-123.
On the Grizzlies’ second-half breakdown, head coach Taylor Jenkins said, “Terrible defense. Give the Bulls a lot of credit, they put us on our heels. We were atrocious defensively, and they took advantage [of that]. They had a great shooting night. They moved the ball great. We didn’t give one lick about defense, and that’s a problem for us right now.”
The Grizzlies are among the league’s top scoring teams. Desmond Bane posted 14 quick points in the first quarter before picking up two early fouls. Jaren Jackson Jr. also started strong, adding 8 points in the quarter, and Santi Aldama was active on the boards. Memphis led by as many as 14 points in the first quarter.
The Bulls, known for their fast pace, are currently the league’s fastest team by tempo. However, playing fast can lead to missed opportunities. Despite Memphis’s early lead, Chicago hit five of eleven from three-point range to keep the game close, trailing 32-22 at the end of the first quarter.
With Morant out, younger Grizzlies players saw increased playing time. Jay Huff capitalized on his extra minutes when Zack Edey got into foul trouble. Jaylen Wells also got early minutes after Bane’s foul trouble and tallied 5 points and 2 rebounds within his first five minutes on the court.
Memphis extended its lead to 20 points in the second quarter, going up 44-24. Chicago, however, responded with a run, cutting the deficit to 8 points. The Bulls hit six three-pointers in the quarter, but Bane returned to sink three three-pointers within a span of one minute and four seconds, helping Memphis lead 68-54 at halftime.
Third quarters have been a challenge for Memphis this season. They previously surrendered a 17-0 run to the Houston Rockets and a 21-0 run to the Orlando Magic. Against Chicago, the Grizzlies allowed a 15-3 run in the third quarter, but managed to hold a 100-93 lead heading into the fourth.
Zach LaVine’s three-pointer with 7:35 remaining closed the gap to 109-108. Following a Grizzlies turnover, LaVine hit another three to give Chicago its first lead of the game at 111-109. Memphis fought hard but couldn’t regain the lead, and Chicago extended its advantage to as many as seven points in the closing minutes. Memphis had opportunities to tie but couldn’t convert.
The Bulls (2-2) were led by LaVine with 30 points, including five three-pointers. Chicago hit 25 three-pointers total, with 11 in the first half and 14 in the second. Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points and added four three-pointers, while Coby White contributed 20 points and Jalen Smith had 16 points off the bench.
The Grizzlies (2-2) had a balanced attack, with Bane leading the way with 30 points and six three-pointers. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 19 points in 24 minutes, Jake LaRavia contributed 17 points off the bench, and Aldama finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Memphis also posted a season-high 60 rebounds.
On the team’s defensive issues, Bane said, “We couldn’t keep anybody in front of us. The game got sloppy. Our rotations weren’t on point. Give them credit, they made tough shots. That’s kind of been our calling card all season, and we’ve struggled in third quarters and second halves. We got to be better if we want to be the team we want to be.”
Next up, the Grizzlies face two Eastern Conference teams at FedExForum. They will host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, Oct. 30, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 31. Both games tip off at 7 p.m.
