The Chicago Bulls are trying to climb into the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The Bulls are a half-game behind the Washington Wizards for the No. 10 seed.
The current NBA lines list the Bulls as slight favorites on the NBA point spread at -2½.
Timberwolves Battling Warriors in Standings
The Timberwolves are currently one game behind the Golden State Warriors for the coveted No. 6 seed in the West. If they leapfrog Golden State into that spot, the Timberwolves will be safe from having to navigate the play-in tournament. But, with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, the T-Wolves need to step it up over the season’s final weeks.
The Timberwolves’ recent struggles are not about performance, as the NBA news regarding injuries to this roster is plentiful. Jaylen Nowell and Austin Rivers have been ruled out, along with superstar Karl-Anthony Towns, who still has a few weeks left to recover from a calf injury. Towns has missed more than half the season and would be a perfect addition to this team down the home stretch.
Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid are questionable for Friday. The pair account for most of the defense in the paint with KAT injured, and if both miss Friday’s game, the Bulls will do some damage down low.
Bulls Take Aim at No. 10 Seed
The Bulls remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They are tied with the Indiana Pacers for the 11th seed.
Unlike the Timberwolves, the Chicago Bulls broke even over their last 10 games at 5-5. But, as with Minnesota, Chicago needs to up its game if a playoff berth is in the cards.
The best thing the Bulls can do is take care of business when they have the opportunity to play at home. On Friday, the Bulls are favored at home and make for a tempting bet on basketball to end the week.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will undergo a third surgery on his left knee that is expected to cost him most, if not all, of the 2023-24 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
The sides are optimistic of the procedure reviving Ball’s career. 🙏🏽
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2023
There are no new injuries to report in Chicago besides Lonzo Ball undergoing a third procedure on his left knee. The oft-injured star is scheduled to miss most of the upcoming season.
Timberwolves vs Bulls Game Injuries
Timberwolves vs Bulls Head-to-Head
The Timberwolves crushed the Bulls 150-126 in their only other matchup this season, covering easily as +1½-point underdogs on the NBA betting lines. The over is on a six-game winning streak when these teams play, dating back to 2020.
Timberwolves vs Bulls Game Information
- Game: Timberwolves (35-35) vs Bulls (31-37)
- Location United Center, Chicago
- Day/Time: Friday, March 17, 8 p.m. ET
- Timberwolves vs Bulls Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Timberwolves vs Bulls Betting Lines
Timberwolves vs Bulls Picks and Prediction
With a win, the Bulls could move into the No. 10 seed if the Wizards lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The No. 10 seed is a big deal for the Bulls, and my NBA picks will back them to take care of business against the Timberwolves on Friday.
Minnesota are listed at +125 in our Vegas NBA lines. If you wager $100 on the Timberwolves, you can win $125. The Chicago Bulls are -145, offering a chance to win $69 on a $100 wager. The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Timberwolves a 44.44% chance to win, with the Bulls at 59.18%.
Timberwolves vs Bulls Trends
Timberwolves vs Bulls Edge
Timberwolves vs Bulls Results
Timberwolves vs Bulls Game Summary
Timberwolves vs Bulls Previous Game (Dec, 18, 2022)
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been dealing with a lot of injuries of late, and even if Gobert and Russell are able to play in this one, they won’t be 100%. Look for the Chicago Bulls to take advantage of that and come away with the road victory.
The Minnesota Timberwolves try for a second straight win when they play host to the Chicago Bulls. Minnesota snapped a three-game losing skid with a two-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and is in fourth place in the Northwest Division, 1½ games behind the third-place Utah Jazz.
Bulls vs Timberwolves Game Summary
