Chicago Bulls vs Minnesota Timberwolves: match prediction on 17 October 2026

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 120 to 115 on Friday night. The result extended Chicago's recent success in the series, marking their fourth victory in the last six meetings between the two sides.

Both teams entered the fixture in mixed form, with the Bulls having won two of their previous five games and the Timberwolves claiming three victories from their last five outings. The Bulls' offensive output averaged 89.9 points per game over the preceding ten matches, while their opponents had managed 88.3 points. Despite a lower field goal percentage of 40.25 per cent compared to Minnesota's 37.8 per cent, the Bulls generated more assists, recording 28.4 per game against the visitors' 22.2.

The match took place without the presence of Minnesota's Donte DiVincenzo, who remains sidelined with an Achilles tear. The coach expressed cautious optimism regarding his return this season, but the player did not feature in the contest. The Bulls wore a memorial patch for Stacey King, who died in June 2026 at the age of 59, honouring the former player and broadcaster as part of the game's opening ceremony.

The victory was significant for the Bulls, who had lost their previous home fixture against the Memphis Grizzlies 100 to 104. It followed a narrow away defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

The Bulls recorded 43.5 rebounds per game in their recent form, slightly edging out the Timberwolves' 42.7. However, the visitors were more efficient in ball security, committing 15.8 turnovers per game compared to Chicago's 17.8. The Bulls also recorded more steals, averaging 10.6 against Minnesota's 8.2 per game.