3 of 17 free throws scored 20+ The Timberwolves scored 45 points in the final quarter, reversing the Bulls and sending the opponent to a 4-game losing streak

At 9 o'clock on November 8, Beijing time, in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Chicago Bulls 135-119, sending the opponent to four consecutive defeats. In this game, the Timberwolves made 17 of 17 free throws and scored 45 points in the final quarter.

Statistics

Timberwolves: Edwards 33 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, Randle 22 points and 10 rebounds, Gobert 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, McDaniels 19 points, Conley 14 points and 11 assists, DiVincenzo 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals;

Bulls: Vucevic 25 points and 5 rebounds, White 24 points and 8 assists, Giddey 9 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists, Williams 12 points, Dosumu 13 points, Tucker 13 points and 5 rebounds;

Background

Before this game, the Bulls had a 3-5 record in the regular season, and recently lost to the Nets, Jazz and Mavericks, suffering three consecutive defeats. The Timberwolves previously had a 4-3 record in the regular season. During that time, Edwards averaged 11.4 three-pointers per game and hit 5.1 three-pointers per game, both of which ranked first in the league. At this point, the Bulls' Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball are both sidelined with injuries.

Match replays

At the beginning of the game, the two sides launched an attack on the outside, hitting consecutive three-pointers, and tied it 6-6. Conley made it 2+1, but the Bulls then hit another three-pointer from Giddey and White, and the Bulls tried to establish a lead. The Timberwolves instigated a counterattack, but the Bulls hit three-pointers by Vucevic and White, and the Bulls held an eight-point advantage at this time. The Timberwolves immediately gave the opponent a counterattack on the outside, and Randle and Walker shot three-pointers one after another to bite the score. At the end of the quarter, the two sides finally suspended the crazy competition on the outside, shifted the main offensive position to the inside, and took turns to score points through counterattack layups, dunks under the basket and strong attacks with the ball inside. At the end of the first quarter, the Bulls were 34-28.

Entering the second quarter, the Bulls' three-point shooting was still hot, and they took the lead in a 9-3 wave to extend the lead to double digits. After that, Gobert and Randle took turns to attack the opponent's interior line, and with this, they blasted out a wave of 6-0. In the ensuing period, the two sides alternated points through long-range jumpers, counter layups and free throws, and when Phillips hit a three-pointer, the Bulls led the Timberwolves by 11 points at 50-39. The Timberwolves tried to organize a new round of counterattack, but the Bulls continued to shoot and still scored consecutive points, and when Vucevic broke through to score a layup, the Bulls held a 13-point advantage. At the end of the quarter, Reed and Conley hit shots and Edwards hit the buzzer. At halftime, the Bulls 65-56 Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves were not defeated but scored points through counterattack layups, jumpers and free throws, and when Gobert received Randle's wonderful pass to score a layup, the Timberwolves closed the trail to 4 points. Then, Vucevic hit consecutive three-pointers to help the Bulls stabilize the situation a little, but the Timberwolves quickly organized a counterattack, Randle hit a three-pointer and DiVincenzo scored five straight points to close the score again. At the end of the quarter, Edwards hit another three-pointer to lead the team to chase the score, but the Bulls were led by White to step up and lead the team to stabilize the situation by turning over and making jumpers and free throws. At the end of the third quarter, the Bulls led by five points at 95-90.

In the final quarter of the game, DiVincenzo hit a three-pointer and Gobert hit a 2+1 shot, but the Bulls continued to be hot, and when Tucker hit a three-pointer, the Bulls held a 5-point advantage. Immediately after, Walker and Randle scored on jumpers and Edwards hit a three-pointer, and the Timberwolves launched a wave of 12-0 to turn the situation around and lead by 7 points. In the following period, the Bulls chased the points under the leadership of White, but the Timberwolves quickly gave the opponent a counterattack to stabilize the situation, and when Gobert played 2+1, the Timberwolves 118-110. Then, McDaniels hit a three-pointer and Gobert hit a 2+1 again, and the Timberwolves extended the score to seal the win. In the end, the Timberwolves defeated the Bulls 135-119 to send their opponents to a four-game losing streak.

Both sides start

Timberwolves: Edwards, Randle, Gobert, McDaniels, Conley;

Bulls: Vucevic, White, Giddey, Williams, Dosumu;