2025-26 · Regular Season · Final
Chicago Bulls at Memphis Grizzlies
Saturday, March 28, 2026 · tip-off 8:00 PM ET
CHI 1–2@MEM 2–3 records going into the game NBA.com recap ↗
Forecast and result
| Team | Projected | Final | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHI Chicago Bulls | 120 | 124 | +4 |
| MEM Memphis Grizzlies (home) | 116 | 125 | +9 |
Forecast: Chicago Bulls to win, 61% win probability, projected margin 4.
Inside the Forecast
How the inputs are builtWhat the model received
| Input | CHI | MEM |
|---|---|---|
| Elo ratingMargin-of-victory Elo; 1500 is average. | 1376 | 1348 |
| Elo gap, home minus road, incl. home court | +42 | |
| Season scoring marginPoints per game, blended with last season early in the year. | −4.6 | −4.2 |
| Games played this season | 73 | 73 |
| Offensive rating, last 10Points scored per 100 possessions. | 114.3 | 109.8 |
| Defensive rating, last 10Points allowed per 100 possessions; lower is better. | 121.2 | 125.2 |
| Combined pace, last 10Possessions per game, both teams. | 102.9 | |
| Rotation points missingPoints per game of rotation players listed Out or Doubtful. | 26.7 | 40.9 |
| Rest days | 1 | 1 |
| Second night of a back-to-back | Yes | Yes |
This forecast can't be broken down exactly: the model version that made this forecast is not available. Explanations are shown only when the model that made a forecast can be rebuilt and reproduces it. How explanations are checked
Built from the box scores
How the breakdowns workWhere each input came from. Open a row to see the games and box-score stats behind it. A breakdown is shown only when rebuilding it from the stored stats gives exactly the number the model received.
Elo ratingCHI1376MEM1348
Updated after every game from the final score only: wins, losses and margin. Each season starts by keeping 75% of last season's distance from the 1500 average.
CHI1376
- Ended last season at 1537 → started this one at 1528
- First 63 games: −140.4
- Last 10 games: −11.3
- L@SAC110–126−15.0
- W@GSW130–124+13.6
- L@LAL130–142−3.9
- L@LAC108–119−3.1
- WMEM132–107+14.2
- LTOR109–139−17.4
- LCLE110–115−3.4
- WHOU132–124+13.5
- L@PHI137–157−7.8
- L@OKC113–131−2.0
MEM1348
- Ended last season at 1525 → started this one at 1519
- First 63 games: −124.7
- Last 10 games: −46.4
- L@PHI129–139−5.3
- LDAL112–120−12.8
- L@DET110–126−2.7
- L@CHI107–132−14.2
- WDEN125–118+14.0
- LBOS112–117−2.7
- L@CHA101–124−3.5
- L@ATL107–146−8.3
- LSAS98–123−4.7
- LHOU109–119−6.2
Season scoring marginCHI−4.6MEM−4.2
Points scored minus points allowed per game this season, mixed with last season's margin until 20 games are played.
CHI−4.6
Scores 116.3, allows 120.9 over 73 games: −4.6 a game.
MEM−4.2
Scores 114.9, allows 119.1 over 73 games: −4.2 a game.
Offensive rating, last 10CHI114.3MEM109.8
Points scored per 100 possessions. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2025-26 to date: 114.7).
CHI114.3scored, −0.4 vs league
| Factor | CHI | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 54.8% | 54.6% | +0.4 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.2% | 12.2% | +0.0 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.0% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.190 | 0.210 | −0.6 | |
| Everything else | −0.2 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 1 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
MEM109.8scored, −4.9 vs league
| Factor | MEM | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 51.8% | 54.6% | −4.2 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.2% | 12.2% | +0.0 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | 17.7% | 26.0% | −3.7 | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.192 | 0.210 | −0.5 | |
| Everything else | +3.6 |
Defensive rating, last 10CHI121.2MEM125.2
Points allowed per 100 possessions, built from what opponents did in those games. Bars point right when the defense held opponents below average. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2025-26 to date: 114.7).
CHI121.2allowed, +6.5 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 56.8% | 54.6% | −3.3 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 9.6% | 12.2% | −3.7 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.0% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.204 | 0.210 | +0.2 | |
| Everything else | +0.3 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 1 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
MEM125.2allowed, +10.5 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 58.7% | 54.6% | −6.3 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.8% | 12.2% | +0.9 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | 44.5% | 26.0% | −8.3 | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.228 | 0.210 | −0.5 | |
| Everything else | +3.6 |
Pace, last 10average 102.9
Possessions per 48 minutes. The model uses the average of the two teams. Faster games mean more points for both sides, so pace mostly moves the projected total, not the margin.
Couldn't be rebuilt exactly from the stored box scores.
Rotation points missingCHI26.7MEM40.9
Points per game of rotation players (two or more of the last 10 games this season, 15+ minutes) listed Out or Doubtful on the official injury report.
CHI26.7pts/g missing
| Player | Pts | Min | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Smith | 9.7 | 22.9 | 7 |
| Nick Richards | 9.2 | 22.1 | 9 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | 7.8 | 21.4 | 8 |
Source: official injury report, 2026-03-28 17:30 ET. 11 rotation players.
MEM40.9pts/g missing
| Player | Pts | Min | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Jerome | 20.2 | 24.6 | 5 |
| Jaylen Wells | 11.4 | 23.8 | 7 |
| Cam Spencer | 9.2 | 24.6 | 8 |
Source: official injury report, 2026-03-28 17:30 ET. 10 rotation players.
RestCHI1 daysMEM1 days
Days since the team's previous game, capped at 5. One day means the second night of a back-to-back.
CHI1day, back-to-back
Last played Mar 27 against OKC.
MEM1day, back-to-back
Last played Mar 27 against HOU.
The last 10 games behind these numbers, box-score totals
CHI
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27 | @OKC | 113–131 | 41-98 | 15-47 | 16-21 | 12 | 10 | 107.6 | 126.0 | 104.5 |
| Mar 25 | @PHI | 137–157 | 48-98 | 15-47 | 26-31 | 13 | 10 | 121.2 | 138.9 | 113.0 |
| Mar 23 | HOU | 132–124 | 45-90 | 19-38 | 23-28 | 14 | 7 | 121.1 | 113.8 | 109.0 |
| Mar 19 | CLE | 110–115 | 42-94 | 15-44 | 11-17 | 16 | 12 | 106.8 | 112.7 | 102.5 |
| Mar 18 | TOR | 109–139 | 40-85 | 9-31 | 20-28 | 19 | 9 | 100.9 | 129.9 | 107.5 |
| Mar 16 | MEM | 132–107 | 48-93 | 18-48 | 18-21 | 16 | 13 | 129.4 | 102.9 | 103.0 |
| Mar 13 | @LAC | 108–119 | 42-95 | 12-41 | 12-13 | 13 | 12 | 105.9 | 116.7 | 102.0 |
| Mar 12 | @LAL | 130–142 | 51-95 | 15-36 | 13-16 | 15 | 11 | 126.2 | 137.9 | 103.0 |
| Mar 10 | @GSW | 130–124 | 50-112 | 15-47 | 15-18 | 12 | 20 | 118.2 | 110.7 | 100.5 |
| Mar 8 | @SAC | 110–126 | 35-84 | 17-45 | 23-34 | 14 | – | 105.8 | 122.3 | 103.5 |
MEM
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27 | HOU | 109–119 | 40-91 | 13-37 | 16-18 | 11 | 9 | 112.4 | 122.7 | 97.0 |
| Mar 25 | SAS | 98–123 | 34-86 | 16-50 | 14-20 | 12 | 3 | 96.1 | 123.0 | 101.0 |
| Mar 23 | @ATL | 107–146 | 35-83 | 14-43 | 23-26 | 21 | 4 | 103.9 | 140.4 | 103.5 |
| Mar 21 | @CHA | 101–124 | 35-86 | 16-46 | 15-19 | 13 | 6 | 102.0 | 125.3 | 99.0 |
| Mar 20 | BOS | 112–117 | 42-90 | 14-43 | 14-17 | 9 | 6 | 115.5 | 120.6 | 97.0 |
| Mar 18 | DEN | 125–118 | 42-98 | 16-49 | 25-32 | 10 | 8 | 115.7 | 108.3 | 108.5 |
| Mar 16 | @CHI | 107–132 | 39-86 | 14-39 | 15-19 | 17 | 5 | 102.9 | 129.4 | 103.0 |
| Mar 13 | @DET | 110–126 | 38-89 | 15-41 | 19-24 | 16 | 6 | 111.1 | 128.6 | 98.5 |
| Mar 12 | DAL | 112–120 | 41-98 | 14-48 | 16-22 | 10 | 12 | 110.9 | 117.6 | 101.5 |
| Mar 10 | @PHI | 129–139 | 48-97 | 17-43 | 16-21 | 20 | 19 | 127.7 | 136.3 | 101.5 |
Off and Def are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions in each game; their averages are the 10-game ratings above. OREB is missing (–) where the source data didn't record it.
The result against the forecast
2025-26 surprise gamesSurprise is measured against this model's forecast, not against what other observers expected. Outcome surprise is −ln(winner's pregame probability): 0.69 for a coin flip, 2.3 for a 10% winner.
Team box score
What happened in the game. These numbers are not used by the forecast, and they are not offered as the reason it missed.
| Team stat | CHI | MEM |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 124 | 125 |
| Field goals | 41–82 · 50.0% | 50–107 · 46.7% |
| Three-pointers | 10–33 · 30.3% | 12–38 · 31.6% |
| Free throws | 32–43 · 74.4% | 13–17 · 76.5% |
| Rebounds | 53 | 37 |
| Assists | 26 | 31 |
| Turnovers | 23 | 14 |
| Steals | 8 | 17 |
| Blocks | 11 | 3 |
How the model does with these teams over time: Chicago Bulls · Memphis Grizzlies
Where the forecast differed from the result
| Measure | Forecast | Actual | Actual − forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home margin (MEM) | −4 | +1 | +5 |
| Total points | 236 | 249 | +13 |
| CHI points | 120 | 124 | +4 |
| MEM points | 116 | 125 | +9 |
Recent form before this game
Previous meetings
| Date | Matchup | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 16 2025-26 | MEM at CHI | MEM 107 – 132 CHI |
| Nov 23 2024-25 | MEM at CHI | MEM 142 – 131 CHI |
| Oct 28 2024-25 | CHI at MEM | CHI 126 – 123 MEM |
| Feb 8 2023-24 | CHI at MEM | CHI 118 – 110 MEM |
| Jan 20 2023-24 | MEM at CHI | MEM 96 – 125 CHI |