Minnesota heads to the United Center with nothing on the line except habits. By Oct. 21 in Miami, every possession will count toward the standings for real.
Four Days, Three Cities
The exhibition schedule closes Oct. 16 at the Bulls, the last tune-up before anything counts. The regular season opens Oct. 21 at Miami on ESPN, then Minnesota visits Orlando two days later and hosts Toronto on NBA TV to close the week. One day of rest sits between the Pistons loss and the trip to Chicago, with no back-to-back on the horizon — the lightest workload the roster has carried all month, two games in the previous seven days. Chicago arrives with three days of rest behind it and a second straight road game ahead, the tougher spot on paper.
Why Miami Is the One That Counts
Chicago, 0-0 under new coach Tiago Splitter, carries no real stakes; the Bulls went 31-51 a season ago and are breaking in a different voice on the bench. Miami is the game that matters, because it opens the actual schedule and airs on ESPN. The Heat gave Minnesota a one-point escape in last week's exhibition, 125-124, a reminder that the margin between these two rosters is thin even when neither side is trying to win. Josh Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists for Chicago a season ago, and Norman Powell led the team at 21.7 points a game; both remain the engine new coach Splitter inherited. Isaac Okoro and Nic Claxton are both day-to-day, Okoro with an undisclosed issue and Claxton with a hamstring.
Who Won't Be Ready
Donte DiVincenzo remains out with the Achilles injury that is expected to keep him sidelined into April. Ayo Dosunmu is day-to-day with a rest designation, expected back by the opener. Rocco Zikarsky and Enrique Freeman are also day-to-day, both tabbed to return in time for Chicago. Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 16 points against Detroit, was cleared off the injury report Oct. 15.
Is the Bulls game on Oct. 16 a real game for the Timberwolves?
No, it's still preseason. Minnesota's record stays 0-0 until the regular season opens Oct. 21 at Miami.
Which Timberwolves players are out or questionable for this stretch?
Donte DiVincenzo remains out with an Achilles injury that is expected to sideline him into next April. Ayo Dosunmu, Rocco Zikarsky and Enrique Freeman are all day-to-day.
