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The basketball world was locked in on Wednesday’s Minnesota Timberwolves versus Chicago Bulls matchup, marking guard Lonzo Ball's return after a two-year absence. Knee problems had sidelined Ball for the last few seasons, but he made his comeback in this preseason clash against the Timberwolves.
Alongside Ball’s return, the game also saw the preseason debut of power forward Julius Randle, who joined the Timberwolves after being traded, along with Donte DiVincenzo, in the deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
The Bulls came out strong and held off a second-half rally from Minnesota to secure a 125-123 win.
Below are the Minnesota Timberwolves versus Chicago Bulls game stats.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Chicago Bulls: Box score
Minnesota Timberwolves' player stats
Chicago Bulls' player stats
In his Minnesota debut, Randle put up 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, shooting 6-for-12 in 26 minutes.
Rudy Gobert dominated the paint with 13 points and 17 rebounds in 27 minutes, while Donte DiVincenzo contributed 17 points off the bench, despite struggling with his shot (7-for-17, including 3-for-13 from 3).
Josh Minott helped Minnesota rally from a double-digit deficit, scoring 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, while Luka Garza added 11 points.
Lonzo Ball, in his much-anticipated return, impressed with 10 points in 15 minutes, shooting 4-for-6, including two 3-pointers.
Coby White led the Bulls with 23 points and four assists in 31 minutes, while Zach LaVine added 19 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Nikola Vucevic posted a strong double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Patrick Williams contributed 12 points and six rebounds for Chicago.
Josh Giddey struggled as a starter for the Bulls, scoring just four points on 1-for-11 shooting, but he dished out nine assists. Off the bench, Talen Horton-Tucker shined with 17 points and five assists.
What’s next for both teams after Minnesota Timberwolves vs Chicago Bulls game?
The Timberwolves, after starting their preseason with two straight wins, have now lost two in a row and sit at 2-2.
They'll look to end the preseason on a high note when they face the Denver Nuggets tomorrow before opening the regular season against the LA Lakers on Oct. 22.
Meanwhile, the Bulls also improved to 2-2 and aim to finish their preseason on a strong note against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
They will kick off their regular season on Oct. 23 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
