NBA: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Memphis Grizzlies will visit the Chicago Bulls in arguably the most interesting NBA matchup this Saturday. We’ll see two very attractive teams with massive highlight-reel potential going one against another. For the moment, the Grizzlies are the No.3 in the West, and are playing fabulous, which could be said for the Bulls as well. Billy Donovan’s unit is battling for the top spot in the East, having pretty solid chances of taking that place for the first time since Derrick Rose won the NBA MVP award.

Preview

Memphis Grizzlies (41-20, -105) come to Illinois with back-to-back losses. The first one was before the All-Star break, and it took place in Tennessee, where they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-119. The second was two days ago in Minneapolis, vs. Timberwolves, 119-114.

Despite opening the game better and winning the first period, 31-21, the Grizzlies couldn’t defeat the T-Wolves, who were better in all the remaining three periods. Ziaire Williams had 21 points, the same as Jaren Jackson Jr., who also added 11 boards and had three blocks.

Ja Morant scored 20 points, with eight boards and four assists, but shooting 7-for-25 from the floor. Desmond Bane was not in the mood as well, with 14 points, 5-for-15 from the field, while DeAndre Melton scored 12 points off the bench.

Chicago Bulls (39-21, -105) have six straight wins, with DeMar DeRozan scoring 35 or more points in all of them, plus, two more games that were outside this streak. The veteran guard is playing the basketball of his life, and he really needs to be in the MVP conversation besides Jokic and Embiid.

The most recent game, and the only one the Bulls played after the All-Star break was against the Hawks, whom they defeated at the United Center, 112-108. That was a very close event, with both sides having a chance to win. In the end, the Bulls were slightly better in the final period, which was the difference-maker.

DeRozan dropped 37 points, 15-for-21 with six boards, while LaVine ended the night with 20 buckets. Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and both he and LaVine didn’t have quite a shooting night, with 11 hits in 30 tries combined.

Head to Head Games

The Grizzlies hosted the Bulls on January 17, winning that clash 119-106, which was their third consecutive victory over the franchise from Illinois. Morant and Bane had 25 points each for the Grizzlies, 19-for-34 from the field combined. For the Bulls, DeRozan scored 24, while Coby White had 16 points.

Prediction

The line for total points is 236.5 points, which is eleven points more than in the previous meeting. Both teams have excellent offenses, very diversified and flexible. It forces us to bet on over, despite the fact that both of the previous respective games of these two units ended with under. The Bulls had a poor shooting night against the Hawks (LaVine and Vucevic) while Morant completely failed to deliver in Minnesota. Seeing this again in the span of two days isn’t that likely.

Pick: Over 236.5 points

Here is the preview for the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets.