Timberwolves at Bulls
Chicago Bulls fans will get to welcome back some familiar faces when Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and the Minnesota Timberwolves visit on Friday. The Bulls signaled their intention to rebuild by trading Butler to the Timberwolves over the summer and are struggling of late with losses in seven straight.
While Butler, Gibson and former head coach Tom Thibodeau battle for playoff position in the Western Conference, the Bulls are trying to work out the kinks with a young roster while trying to integrate its biggest catch from the Butler trade, guard Zach LaVine, into the mix. LaVine was recovering from knee surgery when the trade happened and did not make his Chicago debut until Jan. 13, and he is just beginning to find his form. "Zach's getting a rhythm," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after LaVine scored a season-high 27 points at Sacramento on Monday. "He's playing better, he's getting more comfortable out there. He just needs to build off what he's got going. He's shot the ball much better lately. I liked his attack getting to the basket." The Timberwolves are coming off a tough loss to begin the road trip, a 140-138 overtime setback at Cleveland on Wednesday in which they fell despite shooting 58.1 percent from the floor and hitting 19 3-pointers.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (34-23): The 19 made 3-pointers marked a franchise record for Minnesota, but it allowed Cleveland to drain 21 as the teams combined for an NBA-record 40. "You're not going to win in this league if you play defense like that," Thibodeau told reporters after the Timberwolves dropped behind the Cavaliers and into last place in the NBA in field-goal percentage defense (.478). Butler scored 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting in the loss and is shooting 56.8 percent from the floor over the last four contests.
ABOUT THE BULLS (18-35): Two of the biggest pieces in Chicago's rebuilding plan have been absent of late with second-year point guard Kris Dunn -- who also came over in the Butler trade -- and rookie power forward Lauri Markkanen (personal) out of the lineup. Markkanen, who skipped the road trip following the birth of his first child, is expected back on Friday but Dunn, who sat out the last eight games due to a concussion, is without a timetable for a return. "We just have to stay together; that's all we can do right now," Hoiberg told reporters after the 104-98 loss at Sacramento. "We have four games, all at home, before the All-Star break. It will be great to get back in our building in front of our fans. Hopefully, we'll get Lauri back in the next one and hopefully Kris Dunn keeps making progress."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls C Robin Lopez is shooting 35.2 percent from the floor over the last six games and was ejected from Monday's loss after arguing with officials.
2. Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns made a career-high six 3-pointers on as many attempts Wednesday.
3. Minnesota took the last four in the series, including two straight at Chicago.