On February 12, Beijing time, the Bulls defeated the Timberwolves 134-122 at home to defend the second place in the East. DeRozan scored 35 points and scored 30+ in five consecutive games, equaling his career record. White had 22 points, Green 23, Vucevic 26 and the Bulls 4-man 20+. For most of the game, the Bulls and Timberwolves alternated leads, and in the final quarter, the Bulls pulled away the points and won. The Timberwolves' Edwards scored 31 points, Towns 27 points, and the two sides scored 58 points.
Statistics
Timberwolves: Edwards 31 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists, Towns 27 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, Russell 18 points, Beverley 10 points and 6 assists, Beverley 11 points
Bulls: DeRozan 35 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Vucevic 26 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, Green 23 points, White 22 points, Dosem 14 points and 10 assists, LaVine 12 points
Star of the Field: DeRozan
DeRozan continued his fiery form, scoring 30+ in the fifth consecutive game, and the Bulls scored 20+ with 3 other players, and also played well.
Game tidbits
Lavine and Downs, who were once teammates, had a deep personal relationship, and the two clapped and hugged before the game, with a smile on their faces.
Highlight moments
Towns flew Vucevic and scored with a one-handed dunk!
Bull's Green even sent a violent buckle!
White missed three points and made a direct basket in the air!
Edwards scored 2+1 and scored 19 points in the first half!
DeRozan flew into a two-handed dunk!
LaVine also sent a violent buckle!
In the last quarter, Lavin took a dunk!
White hit three consecutive points!
Game review
In the first quarter, Vucevic hit a 2-pointer, Beverley hit a three-pointer, Edwards scored on a layup, Dosem hit a three-pointer, DeRozan scored 2+1, Towns flew into a dunk, Green scored seven straight points, and the Bulls led by eight points. Towns scored with a layup, Edwards scored two goals in a row and the Timberwolves equalized 8-0 with the Bulls. DeRozan hit a shot, Towns sent another dunk, and the first quarter ended, and the Timberwolves drew 27-27 with the Bulls.
In the second quarter, McDaniels dunked and Dotham hit a three-pointer. DeRozan scored six straight points and Russell returned with two hits. McDaniels scored five straight points and Dotham scored from mid-range to tie the two sides at 42. Lavine's layup broke the personal scoring drought of the game, Edwards scored 8 consecutive points, Green hit a three-pointer, Vucevic hooked up to score, and DeRozan broke through the dunk. At halftime, the Bulls led the Timberwolves 60-59. In the first half, Edwards had 19 points, Towns had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, DeRozan had 17 points, Green had 15 points, and Vucevic had 12 points and five rebounds.
Easy side fight again, Vucevic scored 4 consecutive points, Towns scored a layup, Dosem broke through the dunk, Russell and Lavin hit each other's three-pointers, Vucevic hit three points, and the Bulls were already 9 points ahead. Towns hit a three-pointer, Edwards hit a 2+1, Towns made a layup and scored, and LaVine completed the dunk. Beasley scored 2+1, Towns scored four straight points, Beasley hit another three, and the Timberwolves overtook five points. White hit two consecutive three-pointers to give the Bulls a 92-91 lead over the Timberwolves.
In the final quarter, Reed, Beasley and Prince hit three consecutive points, and the Timberwolves led by three points. DeRozan hit a hit, White hit a three-pointer, Lavine took a dunk, DeRozan scored consecutive hits, and the Bulls blasted a 15-2 wave to lead by 10 points. White hit three straight points, Edwards and Russell also hit three-pointers, and DeRozan threw in to score 30+ in five consecutive games. The game lost suspense, and the Bulls eventually beat the Timberwolves at home.
Both sides started
Timberwolves: Russell, Beverley, Edwards, Vanderbilt, Downs
Bulls: Dosem, Lavin, DeRozan, Green, Vucevic