Chicago Bulls vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks and Predictions November 7th 2024

Bulls vs Timberwolves November 7th 2024

In a non-conference matchup, the Bulls (3-5) host the Timberwolves (4-3) at the United Center in Chicago. The Timberwolves (-327) are favored by 8 points over the Bulls (+263). The over/under line is set at 227.5 points.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 ET and the game will be televised on NBA TV.

Timberwolves vs. Bulls Key Information

The Timberwolves moved to 4-3 on the season with a 114-93 win over the Hornets on Monday. Playing at home, Minnesota was favored by 10.5 points and covered the spread, while the game’s total of 207 points fell short of the 225.5 O/U line.

After an 11-0 run early on, the Timberwolves took control, outscoring Charlotte 33-21 in the 2nd quarter and 34-26 in the 3rd. They entered the 4th quarter with a 91-71 lead and edged the Hornets 23-22 in the final period.

The Timberwolves hit 18 threes at a 47.4% clip in their win over the Hornets, finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 49.4%. Naz Reid led the way with 25 points and 5 made threes, shooting 71.4% from beyond the arc.

Anthony Edwards added 21 points, connecting on 4 threes at 66.7%. Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 14 points, hitting 3 threes at 50% efficiency.

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The Timberwolves’ defense was on point against the Hornets, holding them to just 93 points. They gave up 24 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up in the 2nd, allowing only 21. In the 4th quarter, they limited Charlotte to 22 points to seal the win.

Minnesota’s defense held the Hornets to 39% shooting, including just 23% from beyond the arc, where Charlotte made only 10 threes. The Timberwolves sent the Hornets to the line 16 times, where they made 13 free throws. Minnesota also recorded 7 steals and 8 blocks.

Chicago dropped to 3-5 on the season after a 119-99 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday. The Bulls were +10.5 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 218, falling short of the 236.5 O/U line.

A 17-0 run by Dallas early on put the Bulls in a hole, as the Mavericks extended their lead from 9-6 to 23-9. Chicago couldn’t recover, trailing 32-24 after the 1st quarter and 88-68 going into the 4th, where both teams scored 31 points.

The Bulls struggled offensively in their 99-point effort against the Mavericks, shooting just 41.9% from the field and 28.6% from three-point range. Nikola Vucevic led the way with 14 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 70% of his shots, while Matas Buzelis added 13 points, knocking down 3 threes at a 75% clip.

Josh Giddey contributed 10 points and 6 assists, despite shooting only 33.3% from the floor. The Bulls made 12 threes as a team, with Buzelis scoring 8 of his points in the 3rd quarter, and Vucevic putting up 8 points in the opening period.

The Bulls gave up 119 points to the Mavericks on Wednesday, with Dallas scoring 32 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters. Chicago’s best defensive effort came in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed 24 points.

From three-point range, the Bulls held the Mavericks to 31% shooting, with Dallas making 12 threes. Chicago sent the Mavericks to the line 21 times, where they hit 17 free throws. The Bulls finished with 37 defensive rebounds, allowing 9 offensive boards, and added 8 steals.

Our bet is on the Timberwolves for a win, and we project the score to be 147-127. Additionally, we expect them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to wager on the Timberwolves with the spread at -8.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 227.5 and our model has the Timberwolves and Bulls finishing with a combined 274 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Depth-Rich Timberwolves Look to Extend Bulls’ Skid

The Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to the United Center on Thursday night with momentum on their side and the luxury of a deep rotation as they face the slumping Chicago Bulls, who are searching for answers following three straight losses.

Timberwolves’ “Spoiled” Depth

The Timberwolves (6-2) have a clear advantage in depth, as coach Chris Finch highlighted after Monday’s 114-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

“I’m lucky,” Finch said. “I have eight starters. Really spoiled for choice there.”

With Finch’s top eight players logging between 21 and 30 minutes against Charlotte, the Timberwolves managed to rest key players while maintaining a commanding lead throughout. The game saw first-round picks Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. make their home debuts in the fourth quarter as Minnesota pulled away early, thanks to an aggressive 13-2 second-quarter run.

The luxury of depth is paying off, especially with players like Naz Reid stepping up. Reid nearly posted a double-double with 25 points and nine rebounds, shooting 5-for-7 from three-point range to boost the Timberwolves’ impressive 18-for-38 team effort beyond the arc.

“The beautiful thing about him is he can get it off the board, push it himself, so you can just take off, get to the corners, and he’s going to find you,” said teammate Donte DiVincenzo. “He also can score the bucket better than a lot of other people.”

Anthony Edwards added to Minnesota’s firepower with 21 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Timberwolves continue to show their ability to spread the floor and rely on contributions from throughout the roster.

Bulls Facing Injuries and Turnover Issues

The Bulls (3-5) have struggled with consistency and injuries, notably with leading scorer Zach LaVine missing two straight games due to a right adductor strain. His absence was felt in Wednesday’s 119-99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, as Chicago committed 23 turnovers, leading to 28 points for Dallas. Without LaVine, the Bulls struggled offensively and trailed by as many as 30 points.

Nikola Vucevic tried to shoulder the load, recording his seventh double-double in eight games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Matas Buzelis, starting in place of LaVine, posted a career-high 13 points and nine rebounds but struggled with turnovers.

Defense continues to be a point of concern for Chicago. Vucevic acknowledged the team’s difficulties in finding consistent stops, a necessity if they are to turn their season around.

“We’re not where we need to be (defensively) to win games,” Vucevic admitted, emphasizing the team’s challenge to get stops “consistently.”

The Bulls’ defensive challenges are compounded by the continued absence of reserve guard Lonzo Ball, who remains sidelined with a sprained right wrist. Ball’s status was set for a re-evaluation on Thursday, but coach Billy Donovan noted that there’s no timetable for his return, as he remains in a splint.

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Key Matchup and Final Thoughts

While the Timberwolves will be riding high on their recent success and deep rotation, the Bulls will look to their home-court advantage, where they’ve won seven of the last 10 games against Minnesota, including five straight at the United Center.

Chicago’s ability to limit turnovers and strengthen their defense will be crucial, especially against a Minnesota team that is firing on all cylinders from beyond the arc. If the Bulls can disrupt the Timberwolves’ rhythm and exploit their recent success against Minnesota, they have a chance to stop their slide.

For Minnesota, maintaining their defensive intensity and relying on their deep roster will be the key to extending their momentum and sending Chicago to its fourth straight loss.