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The Minnesota Timberwolves (3-2) and Chicago Bulls (2-2) will square off for NBA preseason action tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EDT from United Center in Chicago, Ill. The game will broadcast live on CHSN.
The Timberwolves are 1.5-point favorites on the spread over the Bulls, with the over/under set at 233.5 total points. The Timberwolves are -125 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Bulls are listed as +105 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Timberwolves vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Friday, October 16.
Timberwolves vs Bulls Prediction
- Timberwolves vs Bulls pick: Under 233.5 (-112o/-108u, DraftKings)
My Timberwolves vs Bulls best bet is on the game to fall short of the total, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Timberwolves vs Bulls Odds
- Timberwolves vs Bulls spread: Timberwolves -1.5 (-110), Bulls +1.5 (-110)
- Timberwolves vs Bulls over/under: 233.5 (-113o / -110u)
- Timberwolves vs Bulls moneyline: Timberwolves -120, Bulls -101
Timberwolves vs Bulls NBA Preview
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview
The new look Minnesota squad has found its way to 3-2 this preseason, dropping its most recent game to Detroit 128-106. Anthony Edwards led the pack with 20 points against the Pistons on Wednesday. Jonathan Kuminga added 16 points, and Jaden McDaniels tacked on 12 for the team.
Recent acquisition LaMelo Ball scored 10+ points in his first three outings with the Timberwolves before managing just three in 18 minutes. Guard Ayo Dosunmu — who signed a lucrative five-year, $112 million extension this summer — will sit out tonight's game. After trading away bigs Naz Reid and Julius Randle, it will remain to be seen until the regular season whether Minnesota's backcourt gamble will pay off.
Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
The Bulls have split this preseason with two wins and two losses. After consecutive defeats to the Grizzlies and Nuggets — each by less than five points — Chicago responded with a 125-104 victory over Milwaukee. In that blowout win, the Bulls scored a whopping 43 points off turnovers, logging 14 steals and 22 fastbreak points.
Against the Bucks, Matas Buzelis earned 19 points to pace the team, and Leonard Miller followed behind with 18 points and seven rebounds. Norman Powell made it to the charity stripe 10 times, scoring 16 total points while Jalen Smith added 15 points and seven rebounds.
Timberwolves vs Bulls Pick, Betting Analysis
Evan Abrams' Home Dog Totals system isolates an edge in NBA preseason games with a home underdog. These situations create unusual scoring expectations, especially when the market sets the closing total at 215.5 or higher.
This system plays the under in those elevated total environments, looking for the market to overestimate offensive efficiency in games where the home team is considered inferior. With unstable rotations, limited minutes for key players, and less offensive continuity, preseason basketball can struggle to sustain the scoring pace required to clear an aggressive total.
Clearly, no player on the Bulls matches the high scoring potential of Edwards or Ball. However, as this is the preseason finale for both squads, I would not expect the stars for either team to play at 100% effort. In a game that will be run by the bench, expect a low-scoring output from both sides.
Pick: Under 233.5 (-112o/-108u, DraftKings)
Timberwolves vs Bulls Betting Trends
