Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls | Preseason Finale | Friday, October 16, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET | United Center, Chicago | CHSN, DAZN-MIN
I picked the Bulls to beat Milwaukee on Wednesday, 119-114. They won 125-104. I’ll take the winner, but I clearly underestimated how thin Milwaukee would be, because the Bucks sat Tyler Herro, Myles Turner, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Gary Trent Jr. and Kyle Kuzma.
Friday is a different test. The Timberwolves have LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, and they’ve been playing their main guys. They also have Ayo Dosunmu, who is facing his old team. It’s the last tune-up before the regular season starts, and my Bulls are still missing most of their big men.
Game Info: Timberwolves at Bulls
- Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
- Tip-off: 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago
- TV: CHSN and the CHSN app in Chicago; one preview lists DAZN-MIN for Minnesota’s broadcast
- Preseason records: Bulls 2-2 (beat Phoenix 124-117, lost to Memphis 104-100, lost to Denver 133-128, beat Milwaukee 125-104). By my count, the Wolves are 3-1 (beat Milwaukee 116-97, lost to Indiana 123-112, beat Miami 125-124, beat New York 122-104)
- Odds: I couldn’t find a reliable sportsbook line. The prediction market Kalshi had Minnesota at 52% and Chicago at 48%, with the total at 237.5, but the trading volume was only about $6,700, so treat that as a rough read
What Happened in Milwaukee
Chicago led 62-39 at halftime and 102-78 after three quarters. The Bulls made 20 of 50 three-pointers (40%) against Milwaukee’s 10 of 23, and they had 35 assists on 42 made baskets.
- Matas Buzelis led with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 5-of-7 from three.
- Jalen Smith started at center for the injured Nic Claxton and had 11 points at halftime.
- Norman Powell had 10 at the half, and six Bulls scored in double figures.
- Josh Giddey had a team-high nine assists, and Tre Jones had seven.
- Jaylin Sellers scored 10 on 4-of-6 shooting in his October debut.
- Caleb Wilson had 10 points in 24 minutes, a quieter night.
Tiago Splitter said before the game that he’d use his intended regular-season rotation, which suggests the starters will get real minutes Friday. The same report said Dailyn Swain and Patrick Williams might be squeezed out of the rotation to start the season.
The Injury Report
- Out: Nic Claxton (hamstring), Zach Collins and two-way rookie Tobe Awaka. Isaac Okoro was also shelved on Wednesday, though no reason was given.
- Rotation: Smith started at center on Wednesday.
The lack of size is a real problem against Gobert, and Splitter said after Denver that it “is a concern.” Check the injury report before tip.
The Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball and a Rebuilt Roster
Minnesota went 49-33 last season, beat Denver in the first round and lost to San Antonio in the second. The offseason brought LaMelo Ball in a trade (Naz Reid went to Charlotte) and Jonathan Kuminga in free agency. Julius Randle was traded to Brooklyn. Donte DiVincenzo is out with a torn Achilles and is expected to miss most of the season.
The preseason starters have been Ball, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga and Gobert. Coach Chris Finch has praised Ball’s defense and how he fits with Gobert.
- Beat Milwaukee 116-97: Ball had 11 points, three assists and a steal in 17 minutes and sat the second half. Edwards said Ball “plays like his hair is on fire.”
- Lost to Indiana 123-112: The game was played in Ames, Iowa. Edwards made four threes.
- Beat Miami 125-124: Miami sat its starters, so this tells us less than the score does.
- Beat New York 122-104: Edwards led the way (one source says 26 points, another says 20, so I’ll just say he led the team), Jaden McDaniels scored 22, and Ball had 10 points and seven assists with five turnovers. Dosunmu added 11.
The Matchups That Matter
Chicago’s bigs vs. Gobert. Smith and whoever else Splitter uses will have to defend the rim and the glass. If Chicago plays Miller or Essengue at center, the Bulls can run, but they give up inches.
Dosunmu vs. his old team, and Miller’s story. Leonard Miller was a Timberwolves draft pick who played 49 games in two and a half seasons there. He came to Chicago in the Dosunmu trade and scored 26 against Denver last Sunday. The Dosunmu-Miller connection is the best subplot of the night.
Ball’s turnovers. Five against New York. If Chicago’s guards can pressure him, that’s a chance to run.
Edwards vs. the Bulls’ wings. Edwards hit five threes against New York, and Chicago’s wings are a young group.
Playing time. Both teams are tuning up for the regular season. Whoever’s starters play more may well win.
What Actually Decides It
The market treats this as a coin flip, and I understand why. Minnesota has the better top-end talent, and the Bulls are missing three bigs. But the Bulls are at home and have been hitting threes, 13 of 25 in Denver and 20 of 50 in Milwaukee.
I want to pick the Bulls, and I think they play well. But Gobert is a problem for a team this thin, and Edwards and Ball are playing real minutes. I’ll take Minnesota in a close game.
My Final Score Prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves 118, Chicago Bulls 113
Let´s go Bulls!!! This will be a close one!
The post Bulls vs. Timberwolves Prediction Game Today October 16th: Preseason Finale With Dosunmu, Gobert and a Thin Frontcourt appeared first on UrbanMatter.
