The Chicago Bulls (31-37) are back in action in search of redemption after suffering a buzzer-beating 117-114 home loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. This evening the Bulls attempt to avoid a series sweep in taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-35) for the second and final time. The Timberwolves established a franchise record for scoring in the first get together on December 18th in Minnesota, defeating Chicago 150-126. It was the first time the Bulls had allowed an opponent to score that many points in over 40 years.
Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick out of Georgia in the 2020 NBA Draft, recorded 37 points and 11 assists, while then teammate (since traded to the LA Lakers), D’Angelo Russell, added 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 7-of-10 from distance, to lead the Timberwolves’ charge. Collectively, Minnesota hit an amazing 23-of-43 (53.5%) from downtown, while the Bulls shot a respectable 16-of-38 (42.1%) from behind the arc. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s seven extra longballs proved to be a key factor in determining the winner of the game.
At the time, the Bulls were tipping off a four-game road trip after having lost six of their last eight. The Minnesota loss ended up being the team’s fourth in a row and dropped Chicago’s record to seven games under .500. However, the Bulls were able to regroup after the embarrassing beatdown, winning their next three games by defeating Miami, Atlanta, and New York to record one of this season’s most successful road swings. Since the Minnesota loss, the Bulls have gone 20-19.
As for tonight, fans can catch the Bulls-Timberwolves rematch at 7:00 pm CST, on NBC Sports Chicago.
DANCING WITH WOLVES
Much like Chicago, Minnesota also suffered a hard-luck 104-102 home loss in their last outing against Boston on Wednesday. Once again, Anthony Edwards led the way with 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished seven assists. It was Edwards’ fourth straight and 42nd game this season of recording 25+ points.
Besides Edwards having another impressive night, Minnesota center, Rudy Gobert, and forwards Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid each chipped in 15 points, while Jaden McDaniels added 14 more off the bench.
The Timberwolves currently sit in seventh place in the West, one game back of Golden State for the sixth seed and a chance to avoid taking part in the league’s end-of-the-season play-in tournament. On the road this season, Minnesota owns a mundane 15-18 record, but tonight they’re shooting to notch a fifth consecutive road victory.
Overall on the season, the Timberwolves average 115.5 points (12th) per game on 49.1% shooting (3rd) while allowing opponents to score 115.6 points (18th). Edwards is the team’s top threat at 25 points per game. He’s also stepped up his production this month, delivering 28.3 points on 48.1% shooting, including 41.5% from behind the arc in March.
Fellow No. 1 overall pick (2015), Karl-Anthony Towns, has only been able to play 21 games this season due to injury. Towns is the team’s second-leading scorer at 20.8 points, but he’s still sidelined and won’t play tonight. However, Gobert, who didn’t play in the first game against the Bulls due to an ankle injury, will take the floor. The seven-foot center from France averages a double-double of 13.7 points and 11.4 rebounds. Nicknamed “The Stifle Tower,” Gobert has been one of the NBA’s best rim protectors for many years. However, he is also prone to picking up fouls around the rim. So look for the Bulls to test Gobert early and often with hard drives to the basket in hopes of getting him in foul trouble, which will then free up room under the basket.
WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND
Tonight’s game tips-off a back-to-back for Chicago, as Miami visits the United Center tomorrow night after Minnesota leaves later this evening. The Bulls will then travel to Philadelphia for a home-and-home pair of games with the Sixers, beginning Monday, with a rematch back at the United Center next Wednesday.
Currently Chicago is on the outside looking in when it comes to making the postseason. Coming into tonight’s contest the Bulls occupy 12th place in the East, a percentage point behind Indiana for 11th and a half a game behind Washington for 10th, with only 13 left to play after tonight. If the Bulls are going to make a second straight postseason appearance, every remaining game needs to be treated as if its Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
THE SECRET RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
For Chicago to win with any consistency, they have to sport a stubborn, blue-collar mentality from the moment the game tips-off by relentlessly being on the attack on every possession.
Offensively, the Bulls are at their best when they generate a quick and inclusive tempo, with everyone crashing the boards, and running the floor. Chicago also has to freely share the ball, and not place a burden on just one or two teammates to score all the points. For the Bulls to succeed, it has to be a team effort.
So, if the Bulls are going to knock-off the Timberwolves tonight, every player has to be actively involved and willing to do whatever is needed to make something good happen, including jumping passing lanes, diving onto the floor for loose balls, communicating and recognizing when to rotate off their assigned man to provide hardnosed, help defense.
Over his last 10 games, Zach LaVine has taken flight, averaging 29.4 points on 52.8% shooting, including hitting 45.3% from three-point range and 92.4% from the free-throw line.
But Chicago can’t afford to solely rely on LaVine this evening. Veteran DeMar DeRozan is also going to be needed in a big way. The six-time All-Star leads the Bulls in scoring at 25.1 points and also averages 5.1 assists. In his last five outings against the Timberwolves, DeRozan is averaging 30.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
Center Nikola Vučević has also tasted success against Minnesota throughout his career, averaging 19.2 points and 10 rebounds over 19 games. Vučević has also been a double-double machine this season, ranking 3rd in the league with 42 coming into tonight’s contest.
As a team, Chicago averages 113.2 points (20th) while shooting an impressive 48.9% (5th) from the floor. On the defensive end, the Bulls give up 112.5 points (10th), holding opponents to 46.8% (8th) shooting. The Bulls also rank near the top in several gritty categories, ranking 2nd in contesting three-point shots (20.7), 3rd in total three-point shots contested (1,406), as well as being tied for 6th in deflections (15.0), and tied for seventh in defensive loose balls recovered (2.4) per game.