Caleb Wilson scores 21; Rockets put up 135

Chicago Bulls 100, Memphis Grizzlies 104

Caleb Wilson's 21 points were the sharpest individual note from the Chicago Bulls' 100-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, October 9. Wilson, new to the NBA, added 4 rebounds and has no previous NBA rating with us. Norman Powell, new to Chicago after last season with the Miami Heat, posted 17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. His Keel Impact was 0.8 last season across 1,718 minutes and 58 games.

Keel Impact is our plus-minus rating per 100 possessions: 0 is average, +2 is good starter level and +5 is All-Star level. Memphis listed Ty Jerome with 16 points and 4 assists; his 3.2 Impact came in 340 minutes over 15 games last season. GG Jackson added 14 points, 4 rebounds and an assist after posting a -0.2 Impact in 1,175 minutes and 54 games.

The preseason result does not count and says little about what follows. Our outlook has the Bulls at 30 wins, a -4.6 net rating and 13th in the East; Memphis is at 33 wins, -3.6 and 13th in the West.

Dallas Mavericks 117, Houston Rockets 135

The Houston Rockets beat the Dallas Mavericks 135-117 behind 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists from Tari Eason. Eason's 0.9 Impact last season came in 1,553 minutes over 60 games. Fred VanVleet, a newcomer to the NBA, had 17 points and 7 assists, and has no prior NBA rating with us.

Dallas got 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists from Cooper Flagg, whose 0.9 Impact last season covered 2,347 minutes and 70 games. Naji Marshall contributed 16 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists after a 0.8 Impact in 2,181 minutes and 74 games.

Our outlook has Houston at 48 wins, a 2.9 net rating and fourth in the West. Dallas is projected for 32 wins, a -3.8 net rating and 14th in the West. The regular season starts Tuesday, October 20.