Observations: Bulls wilt in fourth quarter, fall to Grizzlies

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The Bulls (22-31) saw their losing streak stretch to three with a 101-90 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies (27-25).

Here are 17 observations:

1. This one got off to a gnarly start -- fitting for two teams playing the second night of back-to-backs.

The Bulls had just 11 points nine minutes into the first quarter -- all from Thad Young and Nikola Vučević -- and at one point endured a three-and-a-half minute scoring drought, but finished the period on an 11-2 run to draw level 22-22 entering the second. The Grizzlies shot 1-for-7 from 3-point range and committed seven turnovers in the opening frame.

2. Zach LaVine sparked that spurt upon checking back in at the 2:37 mark after a brief rest. He scored five points, handed out two assists and blocked a Desmond Bane 3-point jumper in the final three minutes of the first. By the half, he had 10 points and four dimes. Though he shot poorly (5-for-14, 2-for-8 from 3) and committed four turnovers on the night, he finished with nine assists.

3. Daniel Theis, too, to off to a fast start, scoring 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the first half. He and LaVine, who slung three of his four first-half assists to Theis, flashed some nice two-man chemistry.

By night's end, he had his Bulls-career-high with 18 points, plus four rebounds and two assists. He left the game early in the fourth quarter holding his hand after getting smacked on a drive to the basket, but returned to play closing minutes later in the period.

4. The Grizzlies led 48-47 at the half, with both teams shooting under 44 percent from the field -- a rarity in this offense-flush season. They also combined for 21 turnovers in the first two quarters (12 from the Grizzlies, nine from the Bulls).

5. Tomáš Satoranský picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, clearing the runway for more Troy Brown Jr. minutes. And he ran with them, pulling down eight rebounds, dishing two assists and guarding Ja Morant for stretches despite not shooting well. He also played crucial ticks late in the fourth for the second game in a row.

6. After a 2-for-10 shooting first half, Vučević scored 12 of his 17 points in the third quarter (5-for-7 from the field, 2-for-3 from deep) to help vault the Bulls in front 74-70 entering the fourth. Entering play, Vučević was averaging 22.3 points in his nine games as a Bull, and scoring nine of those points in third quarters on cumulative 33-for-57 shooting.

7. Patrick Williams scored his first points of the night -- and in turn, his first points since the third quarter of the Hawks game -- at the 9:28 mark of the fourth quarter on a cutting dunk off a feed from Theis, breaking an eight-quarter scoreless streak (in which he attempted just five shots). 

Williams scored in double-figures in four out of the Bulls' first six post-trade deadline games, but in three appearances since, has just six points on 10 field goal attempts -- total.

8. The Bulls and Grizzlies traded blows throughout the first half of the fourth quarter, but a 18-6 Grizzlies run to turn an 83-83 tie into a 101-89 lead between the 6:50 mark and 1:39 mark of the fourth quarter was difference-making.

The Grizzlies won the fourth 31-16 as the Bulls shot 26.1 percent (0-for-11 from 3-point range). Another "clutch" loss makes them 10-19 in games within a five-point margin with five minutes or less to play, and this should only compound their already-29th-ranked fourth quarter net rating (-7.6) on the season.

9. The Bulls committed 17 turnovers (exceeding their 29th-ranked average of 15.6), off of which the Grizzlies scored 19 points.

10. And though the defense looked significantly better, a 5-for-31 night from deep, plus stretches of offensive stagnancy, sank them. This was a grind-it-out affair.

11. Lauri Markkanen's minutes took yet another dip. He logged just 16 against the Grizzlies and is now averaging 21.3 minutes in eight reserve appearances since the deadline. Worse, in those minutes, he hasn't made much an impact of late -- after going scoreless in this one, he's tallied just 13 points on 11 shots in his last three games.

Theis' 27 minutes far exceeded his, the second game in a row that's been the case.

12. Coby White, too, struggled. He shot 2-for-8, 0-for-4 from deep, and had a handful of unsightly defensive moments, especially attempting to get through screens, a trend of this season. He finished with 24 minutes, and makes three young Bulls -- along with Williams and Markkanen -- having a really rough go of it right now.

13. After a two-game lull, Thad Young got back to his mismatch-bruising self, scoring 20 points in 20 minutes on 10-for-15 shooting.

14. The Grizzlies were led by 13 points and 10 assists from Morant, 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks from Jonas Valančiūnas -- who notched his 15th straight double-double -- and 17 points from Dillon Brooks. Grayson Allen, too, hit four 3-pointers.

15. This concluded a five-game-in-seven-night road trip for the Bulls. They went 2-3 against the Grizzlies, league-worst Timberwolves, and shorthanded Pacers, Raptors and Hawks.

16. Standings update: Of the teams in the Bulls' Eastern Conference stratosphere, only the Knicks and Wizards played. Both won. With the Bulls' loss, they fall five games back of the Knicks for eighth and 3.5 behind the Pacers for seventh; they lead the Raptors by 1.5 games and the Wizards by two for the last play-in spot.

17. And the Bulls are now 3-7 in ten games since the trade deadline.

Next up: Home for the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

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