Two teams just above the conference’s playoff threshold will square off in an interconference matchup. The Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Chicago Bulls on the road this Sunday afternoon.
Despite the Grizzlies winning the past five games in the regular season series, the Bulls still maintain a 29-25 advantage in the overall series.
Latest news on Ja Morant and Zach LaVine
Chicago crushed a poor Charlotte club on the road Friday night. Chicago’s two-game losing streak came to a stop with this victory.
The Bulls were 18 games behind the division-leading Bucks on Saturday, putting them in third place in the Central. They were in tenth place in the Eastern Conference and the last team to make the playoffs. They were in ninth place, but only three games back from seventh-place Miami and only one game back from eighth-place Atlanta.
In 29 minutes against the Hornets on Friday, Zach LaVine scored 23 points (7-18 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), grabbed three boards, dished out three assists, and stole one ball.
LaVine had a great first half, scoring 18 of his game-high 23 points and shooting 6-for-7 from the free throw line.
As the Bulls’ lead got larger in the second half, the starting guard spent much of the final quarter on the bench.
Overall, he’s having a good year, but perhaps the most noteworthy thing is that he’s played in 72 games this year, the most since his rookie campaign.
Lonzo Ball (knee) has been out since January 14, 2022 due to injury and has yet to play this season. For the rest of the season, he is out of commission.
The Memphis Grizzlies bounced back from an earlier loss to the Clippers this week to win Friday night and even the series.
With a final record of 49–28, the Grizzlies topped the Southwest Division. Two games behind the Nuggets for the top spot.
With an offensive rating of 116.8, the Grizzlies are now ranked sixth in the NBA. Ja Morant, who contributes 26.6 points and eight dimes per game, is the team’s leader.
Morant finished with 10 points (4-11 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-4 FT), five rebounds, and four assists in 26 minutes of Friday’s 108-94 victory over the Clippers.
The Grizzlies were down by 34-14 late in the first quarter. Memphis was able to come back and win thanks to the bench’s jolt of energy. As a result, Morant saw limited action and finished with his second-lowest scoring total of the year.
Fans, however, need not worry about anything happening in the future.
On January 22 against the Suns, Steven Adams suffered a knee injury. It’s been 31 games since he last played. The next evaluation is scheduled for early April.
Clarke will not play again this season after he tore his Achilles tendon on March 3 against the Nuggets.
Williams’ last game was on March 15 against the Heat, and he didn’t play because of a foot ailment. He has missed the team’s last nine contests.
Due to a hip injury, Konchar sat out the previous two contests. He is day-to-day.
