(Sports Network) - After getting back into the win column over the weekend,
the Memphis Grizzlies aim to open up a three-game homestand on a positive note
as they play host to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
The Grizzlies halted a three-game slide on Saturday, besting the Utah Jazz
99-86. Thanks in part to Zach Randolph's double-double, Memphis won in Utah
for the first time in 10 games.
Randolph had 25 points and 16 rebounds, while Marc Gasol had 16 points and
eight boards as the Grizzlies outscored the Jazz 28-10 in the third quarter to
erase a 10-point halftime deficit.
"We played better defense in the second half and that was the key," Gasol
said. "When we play good defense, when we are unselfish defensively, it
translates into offense."
Rudy Gay added 14 points and has scored at least that many in a career-high 24
straight games.
Memphis is 9-2 at home this season and has won 20 of its past 22 as the host
dating back to last season. The Grizzlies have won six of seven and 11 of
their last 13 at home versus the Bulls.
The two clubs split a pair of meetings last season, with each team winning at
home.
The Bulls picked up their second straight victory on Saturday, using a late
burst to down the Brooklyn Nets 83-82.
Marco Belinelli hit a layup with 1:26 to play to pull Chicago to within two
and Joakim Noah came up with a steal that led to Luol Deng's game-tying dunk.
Belinelli followed a Nets miss with another layup and hit a pair of free
throws with 4.9 ticks to go before the Nets hit a meaningless 3-pointer as
time expired.
"We've lost games like that and we've won games like that," said Deng. "They
had us. We never gave up, we kept playing and we found a way."
Belinelli finished with a team-high 19 points and Deng added 17 for the Bulls,
who have won five of their past six. Noah ended with 12 points and 10
rebounds.
Marquis Teague again saw increased minutes with Kirk Hinrich sitting out a
second game in a row with a knee injury. Hinrich, though, was able to practice
on Sunday and could return Monday.
The Sports Network