In the first of two consecutive home games before the new NBA regular season campaign kicks off, the Chicago Bulls take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the United Center on Thursday.
With just two warm-up matches to go, the goal for the Bulls will be to snap a run of two back-to-back defeats and get up to full speed, while the Timberwolves will aim to get one over their hosts, having lost the two clashes between the sides this year.
Match preview
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Playing their final road game before tipping off the 2024-24 regular season, the Chicago Bulls were on the wrong end of another tight battle as they fell 111-107 against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum Arena on Monday.
A bright start to the contest saw the Bulls outscore their hosts by 10 points in the first quarter before taking a nine-point lead into half time, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined to put the Bucks on a 32-15 run in the third quarter before holding on to seeing out a four-point win.
Despite the defeat, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan will be encouraged by his side's resilient display at this stage of pre-season as six of his players finished with double-digit points, led by Adama Sanogo, who stood out for Chicago at the Fiserv Forum.
In the absence of key players like Lonzo Ball, Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic, Sanogo tallied a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double to go with two blocks and three assists, asserting his dominance at both ends of the court in his first significant minutes in pre-season.
Chicago had kicked off pre-season with a 116-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 9, four days before losing 124-121 against the Memphis Grizzlies despite holding the lead inside the final 50 seconds of the contest.
Following the close of action on Thursday, the Bulls take on Cleveland in their second home game on October 19, five days before kicking off the regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.
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As for the Minnesota Timberwolves, they saw their 100% record in pre-season come to an end in a thrilling 115-110 defeat against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
This was the first meeting between the two sides since the blockbuster trade that saw the Timberwolves send Karl-Anthony Towns, who spent nine seasons at the Target Center, go the other way in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle and Keita Bates-Diop.
Anthony Edwards grabbed the headlines in a red-hot display, knocking down 31 points in 27 minutes of action, including eight of 13 from behind the arc, but Jalen Brunson notched 24 points while OG Anuboby scored 19 to inspire the Knicks to a hard-fought victory.
Prior to that, Chris Finch's men launched their pre-season campaign with a dominant 124-107 victory over a depleted Los Angeles Lakers side on October 5, one week before easing to a 10-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers (121-111).
The Timberwolves now shift their focus to Thursday's matchup against a Bulls side they have failed to get the better of in their two clashes this year, losing 129-123 in overtime back in February before a 109-101 defeat at the Target Center on April 1.
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Team News
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With just two exhibition games left to go before tipping off the regular season, Donovan will hope for a healthy squad at his disposal as several players make their way back to full fitness.
Patrick Williams (wrist) Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder), Coby White (knee) and Ball (knee) all missed Monday's defeat due to injuries and remain day-to-day ahead of Thursday's clash.
Lavine and Vucevic were also notable absentees against the Bucks, with Donovan opting to the two starters, while Julian Phillips's outing at the Fiserv Forum on Monday was cut short after he sustained a groin problem.
Vucevic is expected to return to action on Thursday, while 20-year-old forward Phillips, who notched 10 points in 12 minutes before his injury against the Bucks will be assessed ahead of the game.
With veteran Mike Conley sitting out the Knicks clash due to rest, the Timberwolves boast a healthy squad, and Edwards, who has racked up 60 points across two games against the Bulls this year, should lead the starting five.
DiVincenzo finished with 15 points against his former employers at the weekend, including two of five attempts from 3-point range, and the 27-year-old guard will be looking to build on what has been a solid pre-season.
Chicago Bulls possible starting 5:
Lavine, Giddey, Bitim, Terry, Vucevic
Minnesota Timberwolves possible starting 5:
Edward, DiVincenzo, Reid, McDaniels, Gobert
We say: Minnesota Timberwolves to win by 3+ points.
Despite several starters missing, the Chicago Bulls held their own against the Bucks on Monday and will take the positives from the defeat as they ramp up preparations for the regular campaign.
Edwards has carried his hot hand into pre-season, netting 47 points in 51 minutes across just two matches, and while we expect the 23-year-old to see limited minutes at the United Center, we are backing him to lead the Timberwolves to a close victory.
Joshua Ojele
