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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Emerging superstar point guard Ja Morant sliced through the Golden State Warriors‘ defense and finished with a left-handed layup despite being fouled, making it a three-possession game with 28.9 seconds remaining, a dagger that sealed the Memphis Grizzlies‘ 10th consecutive win.

After Morant landed, he flexed in celebration and strutted a few steps into the crowd, where a young fan raised his right hand in hopes of getting a high-five. Instead, Morant stared down the boy and barked a few words, expressing offense that the kid dared to wear a Warriors jersey to FedExForum on Tuesday night.

“He was disrespectful with that jersey on,” Morant said after the Grizzlies’ 116-108 win. “We Memphis. It looked like he wanted to cheer, but he had that jersey on. I apologize to him, but in that moment, bro, take that jersey off and then dap me up. Somebody find his information. I’ll send him one myself.”

Respect, or lack thereof, has been a frequent talking point for Morant over the past year. He didn’t think the Grizzlies were given their due last season, when Memphis finished 38-34 before winning a pair of play-in games — the second on the road over the Warriors — to earn a playoff berth.

“I bet you we’ve got it now,” Morant said after his 29-point, eight-assist performance in this win over the Warriors. “I bet you we’ve got it now.”

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The Grizzlies have forced their way into conversations about the NBA’s elite teams by dominating for a stretch of more than six weeks. Memphis has won 20 of 24 games, a run that started when Morant suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for 12 games, to improve to 29-14, putting the Grizzlies percentage points behind the Utah Jazz for third place in the Western Conference standings.

“They’ve turned into one of the best teams in the league,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, praising the Grizzlies organization for “building this team from the ground up in the last few years.”

Memphis’ last loss was Dec. 23 to the Warriors in San Francisco. The Grizzlies’ franchise-record 10-game run — the league’s longest active winning streak — includes victories over the top two teams in the West (Phoenix Suns and Warriors). The Grizzlies have also beaten Las Vegas’ two preseason title favorites — the Los Angeles Lakers (twice) and Brooklyn Nets — during the streak.

“Number one, we’re one of the best teams in the league,” said Morant, 22, who is the youngest player to average at least 25 points per game in a double-digit winning streak in NBA history, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. “I feel like that’s number one. And number two, we’re showing how deep our roster is. No matter what’s thrown at us, we bounce back from it and come out and win games. We’ve got to keep it rolling, continue to play together, continue to battle.”

The Grizzlies pounced on the Warriors in the first half, leading by as many as 18 points. Golden State, sparked by Gary Payton II‘s energy, stormed back in the third quarter to take the lead. But Memphis closed it out in crunch time, getting 3s on back-to-back possessions by backup point guard Tyus Jones (17 points, six rebounds, eight assists) to push the cushion to nine points and buckets off two Morant drives in the final minute to kill any Warriors comeback hopes.

“They’re obviously fueled by everything that Ja does and how explosive he is,” said Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, who had a 27-point triple-double but scored only two points in the fourth quarter. “They obviously got us last year in the play-in game and got us twice this year, and we got them once, so it’s a natural evolution of a team trying to take that next step.

“The big part is you talk about it right now; you’ve got to show it in the playoffs. We want to be there to try to do that. I know they want to, too. Nobody’s trying to win the verbal conversation right now of who we are in January.”

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Emerging superstar point guard Ja Morant sliced through the Golden State Warriors‘ defense and finished with a left-handed layup despite being fouled, making it a three-possession game with 28.9 seconds remaining, a dagger that sealed the Memphis Grizzlies‘ 10th consecutive win.

After Morant landed, he flexed in celebration and strutted a few steps into the crowd, where a young fan raised his right hand in hopes of getting a high-five. Instead, Morant stared down the boy and barked a few words, expressing offense that the kid dared to wear a Warriors jersey to FedExForum on Tuesday night.

“He was disrespectful with that jersey on,” Morant said after the Grizzlies’ 116-108 win. “We Memphis. It looked like he wanted to cheer, but he had that jersey on. I apologize to him, but in that moment, bro, take that jersey off and then dap me up. Somebody find his information. I’ll send him one myself.”

Respect, or lack thereof, has been a frequent talking point for Morant over the past year. He didn’t think the Grizzlies were given their due last season, when Memphis finished 38-34 before winning a pair of play-in games — the second on the road over the Warriors — to earn a playoff berth.

“I bet you we’ve got it now,” Morant said after his 29-point, eight-assist performance in this win over the Warriors. “I bet you we’ve got it now.”

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2dDave McMenamin

2dAdrian Wojnarowski

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The Grizzlies have forced their way into conversations about the NBA’s elite teams by dominating for a stretch of more than six weeks. Memphis has won 20 of 24 games, a run that started when Morant suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for 12 games, to improve to 29-14, putting the Grizzlies percentage points behind the Utah Jazz for third place in the Western Conference standings.

“They’ve turned into one of the best teams in the league,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, praising the Grizzlies organization for “building this team from the ground up in the last few years.”

Memphis’ last loss was Dec. 23 to the Warriors in San Francisco. The Grizzlies’ franchise-record 10-game run — the league’s longest active winning streak — includes victories over the top two teams in the West (Phoenix Suns and Warriors). The Grizzlies have also beaten Las Vegas’ two preseason title favorites — the Los Angeles Lakers (twice) and Brooklyn Nets — during the streak.

“Number one, we’re one of the best teams in the league,” said Morant, 22, who is the youngest player to average at least 25 points per game in a double-digit winning streak in NBA history, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. “I feel like that’s number one. And number two, we’re showing how deep our roster is. No matter what’s thrown at us, we bounce back from it and come out and win games. We’ve got to keep it rolling, continue to play together, continue to battle.”

The Grizzlies pounced on the Warriors in the first half, leading by as many as 18 points. Golden State, sparked by Gary Payton II‘s energy, stormed back in the third quarter to take the lead. But Memphis closed it out in crunch time, getting 3s on back-to-back possessions by backup point guard Tyus Jones (17 points, six rebounds, eight assists) to push the cushion to nine points and buckets off two Morant drives in the final minute to kill any Warriors comeback hopes.

“They’re obviously fueled by everything that Ja does and how explosive he is,” said Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, who had a 27-point triple-double but scored only two points in the fourth quarter. “They obviously got us last year in the play-in game and got us twice this year, and we got them once, so it’s a natural evolution of a team trying to take that next step.

“The big part is you talk about it right now; you’ve got to show it in the playoffs. We want to be there to try to do that. I know they want to, too. Nobody’s trying to win the verbal conversation right now of who we are in January.”

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It could have been one of those nights.

A game in which the effort doesn’t have to be as determined, the details could be a bit overlooked.

After all, it was only the Pistons.

And on top of that, there’s what’s coming Wednesday night. Kyrie, “The Beard,” KD … the boys from Brooklyn, who have already felt the horns run through them in two previous meetings this season.

But that’s why this Bulls team is different. What could have been one of those nights was instead what it should be.

The top team in the Eastern Conference welcomed Detroit to the United Center, and treated them like the 9-30 team they were. Make that 9-31 after the 133-87 beat down.

So much for the trap game.

Not that it didn’t look like a lethargic start early on. Coming off an unlikely win over Utah the night before, Detroit came out looking to play David for a second-straight game. For about eight minutes they did, grabbing an eight-point lead over a home team that didn’t look very interested in controlling the boards or contesting shots.

It doesn’t take much to get this group engaged, however, and credit rookie Ayo Dosunmu for the latest charge.

Billy Donovan quickly pulled Derrick Jones Jr. for Dosunmu, and the game flipped around.

“Our team responded when he was out there with some of the plays that he made,” the Bulls coach said of Dosunmu’s play. “I thought when he came off the bench we got right back into the game.”

The entire bench helped that process, led again by Coby White, as the Bulls outscored Detroit 33-25 in the second, and did so by shooting a ridiculous 67% from the field.

Unfortunately for the Pistons, the barrage was only getting started.

Whatever was discussed in the halftime locker room resonated, as the Bulls came out for the third understanding that play time with the little kids next door was over. The Pistons weren’t just taken to the woodshed for 12 minutes of basketball, they were left to rot there.

Thanks to 16 points from Nikola Vucevic in that third quarter, as well as a recommitment to chaotic defense, the Bulls outscored Detroit 36-14. What also stood out in that quarter of dominance? How about outrebounding the visiting team 22-8, while holding them to 4-of-21 from the field?

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in Vooch,” Donovan said of his big man’s slow start and response. “He’s a guy that can course correct in a game. He just kind of figures things out. He got everything involved that he can do offensively in that third quarter.”

Vucevic finished with 22, while the Bulls (27-11) only needed 20 points from DeMar DeRozan and 10 from Zach LaVine. LaVine, however, did finish with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Overall, it was a performance that was not only welcomed, but needed, as Donovan was able to use the fourth as a showcase for his end-of-the-bench players, resting his regulars for what’s coming.

Yes, a nationally televised game with Brooklyn is one part of this week’s headliner, but after an off-day on Thursday, in comes Golden State with the “Splash Brothers” finally reunited.

First things first.

“You want to be the best in the league you’ve got to compete against the best,” DeRozan said. “I’m sure they’re going to come in here with some sort of revenge. Complete dynamic three-headed monster team that they are.”

And the fact that ESPN picked up the game?

“I feel like if you do your job right, you get a raise,” DeRozan said. “You go out there and compete and you want to be watched.”

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones’ homecoming literally didn’t pass the test.

Jones was pulled from the ice during the morning skate Tuesday and later was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, preventing him from making a return to the city he forced a trade from last year. Jake McCabe, Jones’ top-pair defensive partner of late, also was put in the COVID protocol.

In their stead, the Hawks’ ragtag defensive lineup rallied together to produce one of the better performances of the season, securing a 4-2 victory against the Blue Jackets.

”We had to get back, stop in the [defensive] zone, help our ‘D’ out, support them, manage the puck through the neutral zone and go to work in the offensive zone,” interim coach Derek King said. ”For the most part, we did a good job.”

The Hawks will return home pleased with the outcome of their road trip — they finished it 2-1-0, despite an inexcusable loss to the Coyotes — but nervous about COVID spread, with five players and two staff members having contracted the virus.

Brandon Hagel, Erik Gustafsson and Sam Lafferty now have spent five days in the protocol, but trainer Mike Gapski and equipment manager Troy Parchman were added Tuesday with Jones and McCabe.

”You never know day-to-day,” King said before the game. ”It could be spreading through us; it could not be. Whatever it is, we just deal with it. If guys go down with it, so be it. We’ll just plunk guys in there where they need to be.”

King did that — with seamless results. Most notably, the Hawks might have discovered a hidden gem in Jakub Galvas, who essentially inherited Jones’ role in his first career NHL game and thrived in it.

The 22-year-old rookie, who already had impressed Hawks management during training camp, masterfully handled a massive 23-minute, 40-second workload. Not since Duncan Keith in 2005 had a Hawk played that much in his NHL debut.

Blackhawks defenseman Jakub Galvas played 23:40 in his NHL debut Tuesday.Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Galvas quarterbacked the Hawks’ top power-play unit while also leading them in shot-attempt ratio (65%) and expected-goals ratio (77%) at even strength.

”I’ll be honest, I was very surprised how good he played,” King said. ”I knew he was pretty calm with the puck and could skate and make plays, and he’s a smart player. But he looked really good today. He stepped up. That’s not easy.”

”He looked really comfortable with the puck,” defenseman Connor Murphy said. ”[With] some of those breakouts and point play, he fit right in. The key to missing two top players for us is guys coming in and being comfortable and doing their thing.”

The other defensemen made their own impact. Calvin de Haan, after getting an X-ray on his hand during an intermission, scored his first goal of the season, breaking a 1-1 tie in the second period. Murphy scored the Hawks’ third goal. And Riley Stillman continued his recent run of good games with a deceptive slap-pass to set up Alex DeBrincat’s first goal and an assist on DeBrincat’s game-sealing empty-netter.

”[Those were] some great plays by him [with] really good vision,” DeBrincat said. ”That’s a guy who a lot of people don’t notice on our team, but he’s a workhorse. He really helps us win a lot of games.”

The Hawks were hardly clicking offensively. They finished with only 33 shot attempts, tied for their second-fewest in 11 years, and 20 shots on goal. The Jackets had 50 and 26, respectively.

But considering the short-handed circumstances, their effort was something the Hawks can take pride in and build on.

”That’s what we needed: We needed everybody,” DeBrincat said. ”They really brought it for us tonight.”

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There’s not a doubt in my mind that Simeon is the best basketball team in the area right now.

Which is pretty awkward since Glenbard West is undefeated and ranked No. 1. Simeon hasn’t lost to a local team and it has incredibly impressive wins against Curie and Kenwood.

So we have a problem. Simeon and Glenbard West aren’t going to play this season. Glenbard West is playing Young in a couple weeks. The Hilltoppers are also scheduled to face Kenwood in this mythical event at Wintrust on Feb. 5 that no one has any concrete information on yet.

Simeon is allegedly facing Sierra Canyon in that same event. We need the shoe company or whoever is pulling the strings behind the scenes to make a switch. It should be Kenwood vs. Sierra Canyon and Simeon against Glenbard West.

Kenwood and the Hilltoppers can play in the Class 4A state playoffs. And that is as it should be. We don’t need those two to meet up in a meaningless non-conference game a month earlier. Simeon is now in 3A so that event might be the only opportunity to see the two best teams in the state face off.

It’s unlikely anyone is going to listen to me and switch things up. But I’m putting it out there anyway.

Tuesday’s top games

Yorkville Christian 81, Orr 72: The Mustangs made 15 three-pointers in this one. Good luck to any opponent when that happens. This was probably a really fun game to watch. It was a loaded Tuesday night. Jaden Schutt scored 28 and KJ Vasser had 21.

Joliet West 70, Oswego 42: Toby Onyekonwu did it again. The senior scored 36 tonight to top the 33 he scored in his season debut on Friday. Jayden Martin did miss the game with an injury, which had been rumored. The Tigers face Curie this weekend.

Hoffman Estates 52, Barrington 45: The MSL has been a bit tough to figure out this season but it looks like the Hawks are for real. They are now 13-3.

Thornton 77, Homewood-Flossmoor 61: Two of the most difficult teams to figure out in the entire area met in this one and, well, I don’t know what to make of this score. The Vikings have clearly hit a rough patch. Ty Rodgers had 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. I’ve seen the Wildcats look really good for stretches with Rodgers but some of their scores have been puzzling this season, even when he played. Plenty of time to work it all out I guess.

Lemont 82, Richards 43: Nojus Indrusaitis scored 28 and the Castillo brothers (they are fun to watch), combined for 33. A bit surprised by the margin in this one.

Young 56, Westinghouse 34: Xavier Amos (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Marcus Overstreet (12 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles as the Dolphins cruised.

Mount Carmel 64, Marmion 56: Make it 17-0 for the Caravan. DeAndre Craig scored 24 and Edyy Lyons added 15. Mount Carmel is making people notice. There was a lot of talk about the Caravan in the stands at Kenwood tonight.

Fenger 83, Vocational 67: Lonnel Strickland scored 23 and Isaiah Hall added 19.

Providence 61, St. Laurence 52, 2 OT: Looks like this was a thriller. Owen Moran scored 19 for the Celtics and Jack Wajda added 18.

Brooks 74, Corliss 43: The perpetually underrated Eagles pick up a conference win. Anthony Vaval scored 20 and Tim Taiwo, who is a very good player, added 13 points, and eight assists.

Momence 71, Gardner 48: Jaden Walls scored 24 and James Stevenson almost dropped a triple-double. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Momence is 14-1.

Perspectives-Leadership 74, Dyett 63: Senior JaQuwan Payton with a massive 30 points and Matthew Neal added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Beecher 86, Illinois Lutheran 37: Duane Doss had 33 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Mitch Landis scored 20. Bobcats are 14-3 and have a huge matchup with Momence on Friday.

Hyde Park 86, Morgan Park 76: The Thunderbirds keep rolling. Simeon is up next. Malik Jenkins had 22 points and eight rebounds and Davontae Hall added 20 points and four assists. Damarion Morris also scored 20.

Oak Park 58, Hinsdale Central 57: One of the most interesting scores of the night. This is a really nice win for a Huskies squad that has been up and down this season. Sam Lewis scored 18 and Justin Mullins really filled it up with 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Julian 55, Washington 15: Junior Latorius Holiday scored 13 and senior Demetrius Tulloch added 11 points and seven assists.

Marian Catholic 49, St. Patrick 44: Jeremiah Jones scored 22 to get the Spartans a big conference win. Freshman EJ Breland scored 14 for the Shamrocks.

Oswego East 63, Plainfield Central 59: Mehki Robinson had 20 and Patrick Robinson scored 19, they have become one of the best duos in the area. The Wolves are 18-1.

Ag. Science 70, UP-Bronzeville 28: A balanced scoring night for the Cyclones. Justin Sadder had 12, Chris Taylor 11 and James White 10 points.

Lindblom 66, Tilden 25: The Eagles beat Palatine last week and are now 13-3. A White team worth monitoring. Senior Reggie King had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Quentin McCoy filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, eight steals, seven assists and five rebounds.

Lake Forest 59, Mundelein 31: Asa Thomas had 20 points and Tommie Aberle added 12. It was another big night for Mundelein freshman Derek Bishop, who scored 19.

Lyons 59, York 53: Tavari Johnson led the Lions with 22 points.

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WASHINGTON — Bradley Beal was out for the Washington Wizards‘ 122-118 win Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder after entering health and safety protocols for the second time in less than three weeks.

Beal entered the protocols Dec. 23 and returned after a week. He said then that he didn’t have COVID-19 and the absence was due to contact tracing.

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Beal, who missed a chance to play in the Olympics last year after testing positive, was unvaccinated when the season began. When he returned late last month, he said he’d always kept an open mind about receiving the vaccine and decided to do so for family reasons.

Coach Wes Unseld Jr. said Tuesday that he thought a test from Monday was flagged, but he didn’t want to say with certainty. He said Beal would need two consecutive negative tests to exit protocol.

The Wizards play again Wednesday night, at home against the Orlando Magic.

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While more than 300 NBA players have entered the league’s health and safety protocols this season because of COVID-19-related issues, several league general managers told ESPN that a debilitating issue remains the recent surge of team staffers — from coaches to support staff and beyond — entering protocols for the same reason.

Sources told ESPN that this season there have been more than 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases among 2,400 total Tier 1 staff — anyone working within 15 feet of players — across the NBA. The vast majority of cases among Tier 1 staff have also come within the past month, with more than 450 cases occurring from Dec. 7 to Jan. 10, sources said.

Such positions include equipment managers, player development staffers, video coordinators, analytics staffers, security staffers, scouts and those who work in player health positions, including athletic training staffers who double as their team’s respective COVID-19 protocols officers.

General managers across the league point out that while players can often be replaced by G-League backups, replacing core staffers who handle unique roles can prove to be much more challenging and impactful on day-to-day operations.

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“A huge and real impact,” one Western Conference front-office executive said.

Said an Eastern Conference general manager: “The rising caseloads are stretching other team staff [to the limit].”

One NBA athletic training official, speaking on behalf of peers across the league, told ESPN, “It’s been a huge issue from our members’ standpoint. You’re basically taking an assembly of people who help the athletes and taking a few people off the line every few days for a week or more. It has interfered significantly with the regular protocols and people being given responsibilities/duties they don’t normally have or are even qualified to do in order to get the job done. It’s been the Wild Wild West.”

Since the pandemic began, team executives have also been more concerned about positive cases among staff, as many are older and/or have potential underlying issues that could lead to serious issues if they test positive for COVID-19.

The staffing issue has come to the forefront among teams, while the public focus has largely remained on the 328 total players who have entered protocols this season, with 252 entering in December and 69 having entered so far in January. And half of the 30 NBA head coaches have entered protocols this season, with 10 coming in December alone.

A total of 11 games have been postponed this season as some teams haven’t been able to field the league-required eight players.

The league has been encouraging all eligible players and staff to take booster shots. Recently, ESPN reported that nearly 70% of eligible NBA players — a number that comprises about 350 players — have received a booster shot.

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It would be easy for Billy Donovan to simply point towards the returns of Alex Caruso and Javonte Green as the instant cure for an inconsistent defense.

But in the mind of the Bulls coach, it would also be doing a complete disservice to the culture he’s been trying to instill with this entire group since fall camp.

The Bulls getting back to being a disruptive force on the defensive end of the floor has to be a total team commitment. That was reiterated on Tuesday.

“I think having Javonte out, having Alex out, certainly it hurts your defense,” Donovan said. “I’ve always said that when you lose good players, dealing with it there’s an impact. But I don’t want to sit there and say … that would be a tremendous responsibility on the defensive end to put it all on Javonte and/or Alex being out. We’ve got to do it with five guys on the court. I think we’re capable of being better.

“Certainly, Alex has been an elite defender for us, but it hasn’t always been him, it’s been our team as well. When we get him back he makes us better, Javonte makes us better. It’s the same way as when Vooch [Nikola Vucevic] went out, DeMar [DeRozan] went out, Zach [LaVine] went out, and a lot of these other guys went out. We’ll be a better team, as will everybody else across the league, when you’re completely healthy and clean.”

When that will happen for the Bulls was still up in the air.

Green (groin) was still a few weeks away, so that timetable hasn’t changed much, but Caruso’s situation remained day-to-day, and the hope is sooner than later. Especially with what’s coming for the Bulls this week.

Kyrie Irving and the Nets are in town on Wednesday night, and then the “Splash Brothers” – Steph Curry and Klay Thompson – are at the United Center on Friday. The more backcourt defenders the Bulls can throw at both teams, the better.

Caruso, however, still hadn’t tested out of the league’s coronavirus health and safety protocols, and once he does there’s the question of how quickly they can get him up and running from a conditioning standpoint.

“Generally with the testing we’re doing, we do it in the morning, but we don’t get the results until the following morning,” Donovan said. “So we’ll find out a lot more [Wednesday] morning, where his numbers are at.”

If he does test out that’s when a conditioning plan will be put in place.

“A lot has to do with the medical, the NBA, the player, and what were the symptoms like?” Donovan said. “How significant, how severe? Certainly with the number of games we have, if he got cleared in the middle of that, would he be able to play back-to-back? If he was would there be minutes restrictions? So we haven’t gotten that far yet.”

Shooters shoot

Guard Ayo Dosunmu entered the game with the Pistons shooting 54.1% from the field and 45.3% from three-point range. Both eye-opening numbers for a rookie. His secret?

“He’s taken the right shots,” Donovan explained. “When he’s been left open or there’s short closeouts, he’s shot it. When they’ve been up on him he’s tried to put the ball on the floor and gone by people. That’s the hardest thing, I would say for young players, is to know when to drive, when to pass.”

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Brunch is, without question, the best meal of the day. Nothing quite compares to rolling out of bed at 11:30 on a Sunday morning only to tuck into a giant serving of eggs benedict with potatoes on the side. Don’t @ me on this, you know I’m right.

In fact, brunch is so unquestionably amazing that there’s only one thing that can make it better: bottomless booze. And whether your morning-drink-of-choice is a Bloody Mary or a mimosa, Chicago offers up some of the best boozy brunches around. That is, if you know where to find them.

Here are the best bottomless brunches in Chicago.

Avli on the Park: 180 N Fields Blvd Chicago, IL 60601
Avli Taverna: 1335 W Wrightwood Ave Chicago, IL 60614
Avli River North: 702 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60654

Buy any entree and you can enjoy $25 bottomless mimosas. Say it with me again, one entree unlocks the greatest deal of the century and that is $25 bottomless mimosas. It doesn’t matter how you like your mimosas—50/50 OJ split, 90/10 champagne heavy, or a splash of either, it pays for itself. Not to mention it’s available at not one, but three, of Avli’s Chicago locations. The access to great food, drink, and vibes are unmatched.

Photo Credit: Bistronomic Facebook

840 North Wabash Avenue 

Bistronomic is one of the best brunch destinations in Chicago that serves modern French cuisine. Stop by Bistronomic on the weekends, from 10 am to 2:30 pm for brunch. This classic and cozy venue features bottomless mimosas for $18.95 (within a 90-minute limit), with the purchase of an entree or sandwich.

Photo Credit: Lokal Instagram

2500 North Ashland Avenue

A DJ lounge by night, LOKaL is serving up amazing brunch by day. This is easily one of the best breakfast eateries in Chicago. Alongside classic breakfast fare, dinners can enjoy nearly-unlimited mimosas or Bloody Marys for just $12. The restaurant’s Lincoln Park location also offers a $16 Champagne Brunch, which will provide brunch lovers with up to seven glasses of premium champagne to wash down their steak & eggs. And for patrons who prefer beer over champagne, LOKaL boasts a pretty extensive draft list. Stop by anytime from 9 am to 3:30 pm on weekends for great booze, food, and fun!

Photo Credit: DS Tequila Instagram

352 North Halsted

If you’re looking to leave brunch a little more than just buzzed this weekend, then DS Tequila is the spot for you. This is one of the best places to get brunch in Chicago and is a Boystown. This tavern is renown for their margaritas and frozen drinks, which are prepared in mug, bowl or pitcher form. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 am – 3 pm, guests are treated to TexMex-inspired breakfast dishes, a $5 build-your-own Bloody Mary bar replete with bacon and olives, and an $18 mimosa package served from a backpack with any entree purchase.

Photo Credit: MAD Social Chicago Instagram

1140 West Madison Street

MAD Social offers what I won’t hesitate to call Chicago’s best weekly happy hours, and their brunch drink deals are no exception. Stop by this West Loop eating house on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm for $25 bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys. As an added bonus, MAD Social’s brunch menu features some amazing eats like Chicken & Waffles, Havarti Mac & Cheese and an incredibly tempting Short Rib Benedict. We’re making reservations as we speak. And paying for our DD’s parking for the day so they can’t be too ~mad~.

Photo Credit: Zia’s Lago Vista Facebook

3819 North Ashland

Craving Italian? Head to Zia’s Lago Vista for a truly unique boozy brunch experience. Though this Lakeview spot does serve up a few traditional breakfast items like omelets and French Toast, the true star of their menu is the breakfast pizza. With $15 unlimited mimosas or Bloody Marys to boot, a weekend brunch at Zia’s is sure to be a hit!

Photo Credit: Hutch American Kitchen + Bar Instagram

Multiple Locations

With locations in Lakeview, River North, and now Andersonville, this American Bistro has got the brunch game on lock. And though the food at Hutch is undeniably delicious, it’s their drink menu that really rakes in the fans. From stunning cocktails to tall boys to everything in between, Hutch has got you covered no matter your tastes. Personally, I’d suggest going for the Spicy Sunset carafe: a tequila-based drink with jalapeno, pineapple, orange juice, and fresh strawberry puree. They offer $18 bottomless mimosas, Monday-Friday, and $26 bottomless carafes on the weekends.

Photo Credit: 25 Degrees Instagram

736 North Clark Street

25 Degrees allows its guests to customize their drinks by offering $12 bottles of champagne on weekends. Theoretically, this deal serves up to five people, making it a great option for brunchin’ on a budget. Of course, this burger joint also offers a fully stocked Bloody Mary, complete with a slider, a chicken wing, cheese, and a stick beef jerky, you know, just to balance the whole thing out.

Photo Credit: RAISU Japanese Fine Dining

5 Best Japanese Restaurants in Chicago

Are you looking for a place to get delicious Japanese food in the Chicagoland area? We have created a list of 5 popular restaurants to visit.

5 Best Japanese Restaurants

Photo Credit: El Maricahi Facebook

3906 N Broadway

Swing by El Mariachi on a Sunday or Sunday morning to get a breakfast entree and bottomless mimosas for just $25 total. With Mexican-inspired options like Pina Colada French Toast, Torta de Pollo, Huevos Rancheros, and more, you simply cannot go wrong with this boozy brunch option.

Photo Credit: Bar Roma Instagram

2807, 5101 North Clark Street

Bottomless brunch at Bar Roma is as good as it gets. $24 bottomless mimosa package that INCLUDES an entree? Let’s just go right now.

Even better? They have a breakfast pasta. See: Bucatini Carbonara on their menu.

Of course, if booze isn’t your main priority when choosing a brunch spot, you can also check out some of the best brunches by type or best cheap brunches in Chicago.

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Featured Image Credit: Avli Chicago

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