Timberwolves
Bulls' bench explosion buries Timberwolves 133-116 in preseason
The Bulls beat the Timberwolves 133-116 at United Center on Oct. 16, leading from the opening quarter and stretching the gap to 21 points. It's a preseason game, so it has no bearing on the standings (both teams 0-0), but Chicago's bench outscored Minnesota's 77-52 in a lopsided tune-up.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightChicago never let goThe Bulls led 33-28 after one quarter and kept adding to it: 67-60 at the half, 98-88 through three, 133-116 at the…
The Bulls led 33-28 after one quarter and kept adding to it: 67-60 at the half, 98-88 through three, 133-116 at the final buzzer. Each team had six lead changes, but Chicago's biggest lead was 21 points, compared to Minnesota's high of just 4. The Bulls shot 51.5% from the field against Minnesota's 44.8%, and that efficiency gap let them control the game from the first quarter on, even as the Timberwolves matched them in scoring bursts of their own, including a 32-point second quarter.
02Evans and Timme carry Minnesota's benchIsaiah Evans led all scorers with 21 points off Minnesota's bench, going 6/13 from the field and 5/10 from three.
Isaiah Evans led all scorers with 21 points off Minnesota's bench, going 6/13 from the field and 5/10 from three. Drew Timme added 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Jaylen Clark matched him with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals as a starter. For Chicago, Caleb Wilson posted 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks, Matas Buzelis scored 14 on 5/9 shooting, and Jordan Hawkins added 14 off the bench, hitting 4 of 5 three-pointers.
03Won in the paint and off the benchThe Bulls outscored the Timberwolves in the paint 76-56 and out-rebounded them 63-48.
The Bulls outscored the Timberwolves in the paint 76-56 and out-rebounded them 63-48. Chicago's bench scored 77 points to Minnesota's 52, and the Bulls blocked 10 shots to Minnesota's 2. Assists told the same story: 34 for Chicago to 23 for Minnesota. The Timberwolves actually committed fewer turnovers (11 to Chicago's 15) and nearly matched the Bulls in points off turnovers (22 to 23), but it wasn't enough to offset the deficits in the paint, on the glass and on the bench.
04What it means for each teamThis was a preseason game, so it carries no standings weight for either side, both sitting at 0-0.
This was a preseason game, so it carries no standings weight for either side, both sitting at 0-0. For the Bulls, the depth shown by Hawkins, Wilson, Buzelis and a 77-point bench performance is an encouraging sign heading into the regular season. For the Timberwolves, the loss exposes paint defense and rebounding as areas to tighten before games start counting, even with strong individual bench scoring from Evans and Timme.
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