Game preview and injury report: Chicago Bulls saving their season vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Chicago Bulls (31-37) host the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-35) tonight. The Bulls are coming off a tough 117-114 home loss against the Kings on Wednesday. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 33 points, three rebounds and three assists, Zach LaVine had 26 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic added 20 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in the setback.

Minnesota Timberwolves (35-35) vs. Chicago Bulls (31-37)

Friday, March 17 – 08:00 PM ET at United Center

Minnesota Timberwolves

Points Per Game: 115.5 (12th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 115.6 (18th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 34.8 (14th of 30)
Pace: 101.2 (3rd of 30)
Offensive Rating: 113.4 (23rd of 30)
Defensive Rating: 113.5 (10th of 30)
Net Rating: -0.1 (19th of 30)

Chicago Bulls

Points Per Game: 113.2 (20th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 112.5 (10th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 30 (24th of 30)
Pace: 99.1 (17th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 113.4 (24th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 112.7 (6th of 30)
Net Rating: +0.7 (12th of 30)

Contain Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards had a team-high 28 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists on 10-of-20 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range in a 104-102 home loss against the Celtics on Wednesday. With Karl-Anthony Towns out and D'Angelo Russell now with the Lakers, Edwards tries his best to carry the load offensively for the Timberwolves.

The star guard is averaging 26.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 37.6 minutes over his last 10 games, and he had 37 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds on 13-of-24 shooting and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc in the last meeting against the Bulls. Chicago must contain Edwards on Friday to win their 32nd game this season.

Forget Wednesday's loss

After DeRozan tied the game with a miraculous four-point play, De'Aron Fox hit a three-pointer with 0.07 seconds left to give the Kings a 117-114 win over the Bulls.

The Bulls played well offensively (except for the third quarter when they scored just 22 points), shooting 38-of-97 from the field with great ball movement that resulted in 28 assists on the 38 baskets they made.

Chicago went 16-of-42 from three-point range, which is an encouraging sign. We haven't seen the Bulls attempt over 40 three-point shots consistently, and they must build on this and forget about Wednesday's loss because they're running out of time to save their season.

Noteworthy

The Timberwolves won the last meeting, 150-126 on December 18. DeRozan led the Bulls with 29 points.

Chicago beat Minnesota three of the last five times.

The Bulls are 4-6 in the last 10 matchups against the Timberwolves.

Projected lineups:

Timberwolves: Gobert, McDaniels, Anderson, Edwards, Conley
Bulls: Vucevic, Williams, LaVine, DeRozan, Beverley

Injury Report

Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns (Grade 2 right calf strain), Austin Rivers (back spasms), and Jaylen Nowell (left knee tendinopathy) are out against the Bulls. Rudy Gobert (left ankle sprain) and Naz Reid (left calf soreness) are questionable.

Bulls: Lonzo Ball is out with a left knee injury. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) will also miss this game. Alex Caruso (illness) is listed as questionable.