March 27, 2026 | FedExForum, Memphis, TN | 7:00 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Bulls (28–42) travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies (37–33) at FedExForum tonight, and this is going to be tough. They’re 7th in the West and fighting for playoff positioning. We’re 11th in the East and fourteen games under .500 with our season long over.
The Grizzlies have Ja Morant—one of the most explosive guards in the league. Jaren Jackson Jr. protects the rim and stretches the floor. Desmond Bane is a knockdown shooter. They’re physical, deep, and playing meaningful basketball at home.
We’re trying to keep up with DeMar DeRozan’s mid-range game and hoping Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton get hot from three. Against Memphis’ physicality and home crowd, that’s probably not enough.
For Bulls fans, this is another road game where you just hope we don’t get embarrassed against a playoff team.
Where the Bulls Stand (Still Bad)
Record: 28–42 (11th in East)
We’re fourteen games under .500, and the play-in race has been over for weeks. The defense is terrible (120.5 points allowed per game). The rebounding is awful (42.6 per game vs Memphis’ 46.1). And on the road against a physical team like Memphis, both weaknesses will get exposed.
Key Players:
- DeMar DeRozan: Still getting his mid-range buckets, needs another big game on the road
- Anfernee Simons: Inconsistent all season—desperately needs to show up
- Collin Sexton: Provides energy off the bench, but not enough
Billy Donovan keeps preaching defense and execution. Against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies at FedExForum, we’ll need perfection just to stay competitive.
The Memphis Grizzlies: Physical and Playoff-Bound
Record: 37–33 (7th in West)
The Grizzlies are fighting for playoff seeding with physical, intense basketball. Ja Morant is explosive and can take over games with his athleticism. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate who protects the rim and shoots threes. Desmond Bane is a consistent shooter who plays both ends.
Key Players:
- Ja Morant (PG): Explosive guard who can dominate games with athleticism and playmaking
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (F/C): Elite rim protector who stretches the floor with shooting
- Desmond Bane (SG): Knockdown shooter and solid defender
The Numbers:
- 116.0 points per game (efficient offense)
- 112.7 points allowed per game (solid defense)
- 46.1 rebounds per game (dominate the glass)
- Physical, intense style at home
They’re balanced, deep, well-coached, and playing for playoff positioning. This is what competitive basketball looks like.
Breaking Down the Matchup
| Category | Bulls | Grizzlies |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 114.6 | 116.0 |
| Points Allowed | 120.5 | 112.7 |
| Assists Per Game | 29.0 | 26.9 |
| 3-Pointers Made | 14.5 | 13.7 |
| Rebounding | 42.6 | 46.1 |
They score more. They defend way better. They rebound better. We pass slightly better and shoot slightly more threes. That’s it.
The defensive gap is massive—112.7 points allowed vs our 120.5. Against a Grizzlies team that scores 116.0 per game at home, our defense is going to get torched.
What the Bulls Need to Do (Good Luck)
DeMar DeRozan Has to Be Perfect
DeMar needs 35+ points on elite efficiency just to keep us competitive on the road. Memphis’ physicality will make him work for every bucket.
Hit Threes at an Elite Clip
If Simons, Sexton, and our shooters can knock down 18+ threes at 45%+, we have a puncher’s chance on the road. If we go cold, we’re getting blown out.
Someone Has to Slow Down Ja Morant
This is basically impossible. Morant’s too explosive and too fast. But if he gets 35 points and 10 assists and makes it look easy at home, we’re cooked.
Win the Rebounding Battle (Not Happening)
Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies dominate the glass. We can’t let them get easy offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
Don’t Get Embarrassed on the Road
The Grizzlies are going to win at home. We know that. But if they beat us by 25+ in Memphis, that’s unacceptable. Compete for four quarters.
What Memphis Will Bring
Ja Morant will explode to the rim with athleticism and creativity. Jaren Jackson Jr. will protect the paint and hit threes. Desmond Bane will knock down open shots. The FedExForum crowd will be loud and hostile.
The Grizzlies’ physicality, home court advantage, and playoff intensity will overwhelm us. They’re elite for a reason. If we’re sloppy or don’t execute, this could get ugly fast.
Bulls Fan Prediction: We Get Handled on the Road
Final Score: Grizzlies 117, Bulls 106
DeMar DeRozan battles and drops 33 points, showing he can still compete. Anfernee Simons gets hot in the second quarter and scores 24. We hang around for a half behind three-point shooting.
But Ja Morant takes over with 31 points and 9 assists, making our defense look silly. Jaren Jackson Jr. adds 23 with blocks and threes. The Grizzlies’ physicality and home crowd pull away in the second half.
Eleven-point loss on the road feels about right. We compete for a half, then their talent and intensity overwhelm us.
Why This Game Matters (Even Though We’re Probably Losing)
We’re 11th in the East. The play-in is gone. The season’s essentially over.
So why does tonight matter?
Because the Grizzlies represent what physical, playoff basketball looks like. Ja Morant’s explosiveness. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s two-way dominance. Intensity and execution.
DeMar DeRozan deserves to compete against playoff teams. And maybe—just maybe—we can catch Memphis on an off night on the road.
Realistically? We’re getting beaten on the road by a much better team. But it’s basketball. Anything can happen.
See Red. Let´s Go Bulls!!!
The post Bulls vs Grizzlies Prediction Game Today March 27: Road Trip to Memphis appeared first on UrbanMatter.
