Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
The Chicago Bulls suffered a 114-105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at the United Center in their final preseason game.
Here are ten key takeaways from the defeat:
1. Zach LaVine was absent due to illness, and Andre Drummond missed the game for personal reasons. LaVine’s absence prevented coach Billy Donovan from playing his starters for the desired minutes. Although LaVine played well in the limited time he had, scoring 17 points in 23.7 minutes, Donovan expressed disappointment at not having a full roster during the game.
2. Alex Caruso returned to the lineup after recovering from a minor ankle injury. Caruso, along with Torrey Craig and Jevon Carter, showed promising defensive chemistry in the second unit. Donovan strategically inserted Ayo Dosunmu in the starting lineup to maintain this synergy in the second unit. Caruso contributed seven points and four assists in 18 minutes.
3. The Bulls displayed their offensive potential during a first-quarter run, where they scored ten points while maintaining an emphasis on increased three-point attempts. However, only two of their ten attempts were successful.
4. The Timberwolves took advantage of the Bulls’ smaller second unit, particularly during a span of six minutes in the first and second quarters when they outscored the Bulls 16-9. Despite missing Karl Anthony-Towns, the Timberwolves capitalized on their size advantage with Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid.
5. The Bulls’ second unit improved in subsequent appearances, with Jevon Carter and Alex Caruso causing havoc on defense. Ayo Dosunmu’s inclusion further enhanced the unit’s effectiveness.
6. DeMar DeRozan initially struggled offensively but found his rhythm in the second quarter, scoring nine consecutive points. He finished the game with 11 points in 30 minutes.
7. Patrick Williams, who had been challenged by Donovan in the previous game, demonstrated his aggressiveness with a strong dunk attempt over Rudy Gobert. Williams drew a foul and made both free throws. However, he struggled with his shooting, going 3-for-12 from the field and missing all seven three-point attempts.
8. Anthony Edwards showcased his offensive prowess for the Timberwolves, scoring 19 points in just 20 minutes. The Bulls rotated defenders on him but were unable to contain his scoring ability.
9. Nikola Vucevic continued his impressive preseason performance with another 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. He also saw playing time in the fourth quarter for the first time this preseason.
10. The Bulls attempted over 30 three-pointers for only the second time in the preseason, but their shooting percentage was poor.
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