CHICAGO (AP) — Scotty Pippen Jr. had a career-best 30 points with 10 assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the Chicago Bulls 142-131 on Saturday night.
Jaylen Wells added 26 points as Memphis won its second straight.
Pippen, playing in the arena where his Hall of Fame father’s retired number hangs, had 26 points in the first three quarters for Memphis, which has won three of its last four.
Memphis led 109-98 after three quarters and broke the game open with an 8-3 run in the opening minutes of the final period.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 points, and Santi Aldama added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, which led 64-60 at halftime and outrebounded the Bulls 49-35.
The Bulls fell despite 29 points from Zach LaVine, which included 26 in the second half, and 26 points and eight rebounds from Nikola Vucevic.
Grizzlies: Memphis improved to 5-3 during Ja Morant’s absence. The two-time All-Star remained out of action with a hip injury.
Bulls: Taking more 3-pointers has been a priority this season, but Chicago wasn't able to earn a win despite shooting 45.2% (19 of 42) from 3.
Up 91-84 midway through the third quarter, Memphis got consecutive 3-pointers from Jay Huff and Luke Kennard that pushed the lead into double digits and forced a Chicago timeout. The hosts got the deficit under 10 points just twice the rest of the night.
The Bulls shot 37% from the floor and managed just 22 points during the first quarter as Memphis took a lead it never lost.
The Grizzlies host Portland on Monday night, and Chicago visits Washington on Tuesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Memphis Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke (15) drives to basket as Chicago Bulls' Coby White defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Bulls' Matas Buzelis (14) shoots under pressure from Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr., left, and Brandon Clarke during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Memphis Grizzlies' Scotty Pippen Jr. posts up on Chicago Bulls' Jalen Smith as Coby White handles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Memphis Grizzlies' Scotty Pippen Jr. drives to the basket as Chicago Bulls' Ayo Dosunmu defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Palmieri scored twice, Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists and the New York Islanders beat the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Saturday night to end a three-game skid.
Ilya Sorokin stopped 24 shots and got his 100th career victory for the Islanders.
Jake Neighbours scored for St. Louis and Jordan Binnington made 28 saves in the Blues' third loss in four games.
Nelson extended the Islanders lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal with 4:05 left in the second period. He buried a one-timer from his knees when Max Tsyplakov set him up in the slot.
Palmieri opened the scoring with 1:09 left in the first period.
Neighbours scored a power-play goal 45 seconds into the third to pull the Blues within a goal, but Palmieri sealed the Islanders' win with an empty-netter in the final minute.
Blues: The power play has struggled significantly this season, ranking near the bottom of the NHL. However, Neighbours' third-period goal could be a catalyst for improvement.
Islanders: New York held a third-period lead in each of their last four games but managed only a 1-2-1 record, with their lone regulation win coming against the Blues on Saturday. ... Nelson moved ahead of Bob Bourne into a tie for ninth place with John Tonelli on the Islanders' scoring list with 544 points.
Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson scored midway through the third period to temporarily extend the Islanders lead to 3-1, but the goal was taken off the board after the Blues successfully challenged for goaltender interference.
The Islanders' allowed another power-play goal and continue to struggle at home this season, killing off just seven of 16 opportunities.
Blues visit the New York Rangers on Monday, and Islanders host Detroit.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
St. Louis Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) passed the puck against New York Islanders center Kyle Palmieri (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) reacts after scoring a goal in front of St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against the New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) celebrates with right wing Maxim Tsyplakov (7) after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) battle New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) and right wing Maxim Tsyplakov (7) for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Islanders center Kyle Palmieri (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues head coach Steve Ott () during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
