Lonzo Ball returns as Bulls down Timberwolves |
CHICAGO - Wednesday wasn't just an ordinary preseason game for the Chicago Bulls, who welcomed the Minnesota Timber Wolves to the United Center. What is expected to be a transition year for this team was quickly forgotten about in this one, as Lonzo Ball returned to the floor for the first time in nearly three years.
Expected to be on a minutes restriction all season, no one knows what to expect from Ball this season and Ball admitted he doesn't know what to expect from himself. Although this was only one game, it was almost as if he never missed a beat as Ball dropped 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench, including two triples as the Bulls took down the Timberwolves 125-123. It's these types of moments when we realize why we love sports so much, and Ball deserved every bit of this moment he had. This man has been through so much over the past three years, and even though he has been cleared to play, his doctors can't put a timeframe on how long he will be able to play as no one has seen this type of injury before. Not only did Ball make his triumphant return, but for the first time in the preseason, you could make the case that the entire offense was in sync, and when that happens, this team has an opportunity to win a lot of games. Going 18-41 from distance certainly helps, but when four of your five starters land in double figures and seven players total, you have as good a shot to win as anyone. Coby White led the Bulls once again as he continues to push through to the regular season. Despite taking just nine shots, White made the most of those nine shots, connecting on five of his seven triples to finish with a game-high 23 points. Pair him with Zach Lavine, who dropped 19 points to go with five boards and four assists, and this duo is capable of dropping 60 points on you on any given night. White and Lavine will be expected to lead the way this season, but for the Bulls to be at their best, they will need production from the top down. Seeing Nikola Vucevic get more active on both ends of the floor to finish with 17 points and 12 boards certainly helps, as does Patrick Williams, who showed an aggressive nature to come away with 12 points. As has been the case every year since Billy Donovan took over, the Bulls' starting lineup may be talented, but they are limited in terms of what they can do, which is why the Bench plays such a huge role. Having Ball come off the bench with 10 quick points was a pleasant surprise, but seeing Talen Horton-Tucker come out and drop 17 points is living proof that he deserves the final roster spot. Rounding out the double-digit outputs for the Bulls was Jalen Smith, who dropped 10 points and eight rebounds as the Bulls were able to pick up a victory without Ayo Dosunmu seeing the floor and having Josh Giddey provide minimum production at best. Coming off a season in which the Timberwolves fell one game shy of an NBA finals appearance, the Timberwolves shocked the world by trading Karl Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. The success of their season hinges on that deal, but as long as Anthony Edwards continues to play well, Minnesota has a shot to beat anyone. Edwards did lead the Timber Wolves starters with 16 points, but going 6-23 shooting is a concern as Edwards struggled to get in a groove. Randle added 15 points and six rebounds, with Jaden McDaniels adding 12 points. The Timber Wolves starting five struggled to get into a rhythm, which is ironic when you look at how this team performed last season. One player who was in midseason form was Rudy Gobert, who continues to be a matchup nightmare for the Bulls. Despite scoring just 13 points, Gobert was a menace on the boards and pulled down 17 rebounds, which continues to be a massive part of his game. Like the Bulls, Minnesota also benefitted from a trio of strong showings off the bench, which was a big reason this game remained close throughout. Divencenzo continued his impressive preseason with 17 points and five assists, with Luka Garza adding 11 points. However, Josh Minott showed up with the biggest game, going 7-10 from the field and 3-4 from distance to lead the Timber Wolves' second unit with 18 points in the loss. Next on the docket for the Bulls is a preseason finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, as the Bulls are expected to play primarily all of their role players to give them one last audition to make a squad.
