Minnesota returned to winning ways Wednesday with an emphatic 20-point rout of the struggling Washington Wizards. The Timberwolves will look to make it back-to-back wins when they take on the Chicago Bulls who are still smarting from the devastating news that star Derrick Rose will be out once again because of another knee injury.
Read on below for a preview of this NBA showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
Where: United Center, Chicago
When: Friday, February 27, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Minnesota Timberwolves (+6.5) at Chicago Bulls (-6.5); total 195.5 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Minnesota Timberwolves
Welcome back KG!
[sc:NBA240banner ]Kevin Garnett made a triumphant return to Minnesota as the Timberwolves overcame a sluggish start to beat the Washington Wizards, 97-77, on Wednesday night. Garnett had five points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes of action in his first game for Minnesota since 2007.
For a while though, it seemed like the Wizards will spoil Garnett’s party. Washington opened up a quick 18-3 advantage as Minnesota struggled to get its game going after Garnett’s emotional reintroduction. The Wolves recovered quickly, though, thanks in large part to the heroics of Kevin Martin, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Pekovic who combined for 62 points on 22-of-42 shooting.
It was a huge bounce-back victory for the Wolves who were coming off a disappointing 113-102 loss to the Houston Rockets. A key factor to their win against the Wizards was their improved play on the defensive end. The Wolves allowed just 77 points on Wednesday, the lowest output they have conceded this season. That’s way below their season average of 105.8 points allowed per game, the second-worst mark in the NBA this campaign.
Bringing that same defensive intensity will be crucial in stopping a Bulls team that is 10th in the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 101.6 PPG. In case their defense bogs down again, though, the onus is on Martin and Ricky Rubio to set the tone offensively for Minnesota.
Martin leads the team in scoring this season, averaging 20.7 PPG, while Rubio is the team’s leader in assists dishing out an average of 8.3 dimes per game. They will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing the Bulls tonight as they have fared extremely well against them in their only meeting this season.
Martin scored 28 points and Rubio dished out a career-high 17 assists for the Wolves in their matchup last November 1. Their efforts went for naught, though, as the Wolves suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss to the Bulls.
The Wolves are 3-2 ATS in their last five games on the road.
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Betting on the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls started life without Derrick Rose in the worst way possible as they suffered a 98-86 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. The loss snapped the Bulls’ two-game winning streak and sent them back into a tie for first place with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division with a 36-22 record.
Keeping up with the Cavs in the division race will be a tad difficult, though, with the news that Rose will be out once again with another knee injury. The 2011 MVP tore his medial meniscus in his right knee, the same injury he sustained against the Portland Trail Blazers back on November 2013.
This latest setback was a bitter blow not only to Rose but for the entire Bulls organization who looked primed to win the NBA title this season with their stacked lineup. Through 46 games this season, Rose was averaging 18.4 points and 5.0 assists for Chicago.
Without Rose in the starting lineup, the Bulls looked lost on the hard court against the Hornets. The Bulls clearly struggled without their second-leading scorer, shooting just 34-of-77 (44.2%) from the field. They were simply atrocious from beyond the arc, hitting just 3-of-17 three-pointers. To compound their problems, the Bulls were horrible from the stripe as well, nailing just 65.2 percent of their free throws.
With the second half of the season already in full swing, the Bulls need to get their act together quickly and find a way to win without Rose again. The good news for Chicago is that they will next face Minnesota, a team that they have already beaten this season.
The Bulls recorded a 106-105 win over the Wolves last November in their only encounter this season. What makes this victory so important in Chicago’s perspective is that they achieved this win without Rose in their lineup. Starring for the Bulls in that game was Jimmy Butler who scored 24 points including the game-winning free throws with 0.2 seconds left in the game clock.
With Rose now out, expect Butler to assume a heavier workload on the offensive end for the Bulls. Butler has been on a scoring tear this season, averaging a team-high 20.3 points per game. You can also look for Gasol to help in the offensive chores as well. He is having a stellar season for Chicago, averaging 18.3 PPG and 12.1 RPG.
The Bulls are 4-1 SU in their last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Minnesota wins, 96-87.
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