Grizzlies Hold Off Bulls 97-96 in Summer League Thriller

Memphis outlasted Chicago 97-96 in a one-point nailbiter at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The Grizzlies' depth pieces did enough down the stretch to escape with the win despite absences up and down their roster.

The decisive moment

Memphis needed every possession to hold serve against Chicago, with the final margin coming down to a single point. In a game this tight, the last few trips down the floor decided it, and the Grizzlies made just enough plays to close it out 97-96.

By the numbers

Final score: Memphis 97, Chicago 96
Margin of victory: 1 point
Venue: NBA Summer League, Las Vegas

A one-point final is about as close as it gets, and this one lived up to that billing from start to finish. Neither side found enough separation to make it comfortable.

What it means

For Memphis, the win comes without several key names on the floor. Rookie Richie Saunders, the Grizzlies' No. 32 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, did not play, and Zach Edey was limited by an ankle and elbow issue. Scotty Pippen Jr. remains out for the year after undergoing a sesamoidectomy on his right big toe, but the group Memphis fielded in Las Vegas still found a way to finish it off.

Chicago has its own list of absences to work through, with Zach Collins (toe), Jalen Smith (calf) and Nick Richards (elbow) all sidelined. Given the margin, the Bulls were competitive for the full 40 minutes despite missing that trio, a positive sign for a roster still auditioning pieces for the fall.

What to watch next

Both clubs continue Summer League play in Las Vegas with an eye toward roster and rotation decisions ahead of training camp. Health updates on Edey, Collins, Smith and Richards will be worth monitoring as each team wraps up its slate at Thomas & Mack Center and the Pavilion.