Chicago Bulls Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 117-106

The Chicago Bulls arrived in Minneapolis on Saturday just hours before tip-off, overcoming a nationwide ground stop that scrambled travel across the United States.

Despite the logistical chaos and a roster thinned by injury, the Bulls dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-106 to secure their second win in as many nights.

The victory was a stark reversal of expectations for a Chicago team that played the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center on Friday before facing the travel delay. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, entered the contest riding a five-game winning streak.

Norman Powell led the charge with 23 points, while Matas Buzelis contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Buzelis, who has been under pressure to produce, scored 14 of his points in the first half as the Bulls built an early rhythm. The team’s interior presence proved decisive, as they racked up 54 points in the paint, including 30 in the first half alone.

Chicago Bulls Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 117-106

The Timberwolves struggled to find any momentum early, shooting just 9-for-38 from 3-point range and missing their first 13 attempts from deep. They managed only 17 points in the first quarter, marking their lowest-scoring quarter of the season. By the final buzzer, Minnesota had failed to reach 110 points for the first time this season.

Chicago’s rotation struggled. Rookie Caleb Wilson is out for four to six weeks with a fractured right hand, and Jalen Smith also missed the game with a left hand injury. Center Nic Claxton was sidelined with a hamstring injury, forcing the remaining roster to fill the void.

Minnesota Timberwolves Fall To The Chicago Bulls 117-106 — Minnesota Timberwolves

Buddy Hield and Tre Jones each provided 16 points to stabilize the offense, while Patrick Williams added 15 points off the bench. The depth of the Bulls’ scoring effort allowed them to maintain a lead even as Minnesota attempted to close the gap in the second half.

Ayo Dosunmu, a Chicago native, had a big third quarter against his former team to help the Timberwolves claw back. Dosunmu scored 14 of his team-high 24 points in the quarter, while LaMelo Ball added 19 points. Despite the push, the Timberwolves could not overcome the early deficit.