CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls followed a simple formula to complete a 44-point swing and clinch a 128-107 win over the second-best team in the Western Conference: Don’t slow down.
After trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 23 points Sunday, the Bulls seemed set to accept a home beatdown in one of their toughest remaining matchups. But instead of rolling over, the Bulls adopted a frantic style of hands-on defense in the second half, swatting and swiping at every ball within arm’s reach.
The pace was spastic, nearly out of control, but it kept the Grizzlies from ever feeling comfortable. The Bulls forced 16 turnovers in the second half, including three consecutive plays in one 31-second stretch of the fourth quarter.
