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It felt like the 90s again on Saturday with a Pippen dominating a game in the United Center.
Only this time it was Scotty Pippen Jr.
The son of Chicago Bulls legend and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen led his Memphis Grizzlies to a 142-131 victory over his father’s former team and opened up about what such a performance meant given his family’s history.
“It’s a dream come true. It’s crazy to say I put up 30 and 10 in the gym where my dad had played,” he said, per ESPN. “It means everything to me and my family. I talked to my dad tonight about coming in here and playing. He just told me to go out there and kill it, so that’s what I tried to do.”
The younger Pippen finished with 30 points and 10 assists while shooting 13-of-16 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep. It was a much-needed performance for the visitors, as Ja Morant is still out with a hip injury that has sidelined him since a Nov. 6 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pippen is averaging 12.6 points, 5.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from deep this season. He has also scored at least 15 points in four different games since Morant’s injury.
Saturday’s performance was particularly notable, as his father won six championships and was a seven-time All-NBA selection and seven-time All-Star during his time with the Bulls. His No. 33 is retired and hangs from the rafters at the United Center, and he will forever be a franchise legend.
But it was his son who stepped into a starring role Saturday.
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