The Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3) visit the Chicago Bulls (3-5) in the NBA this Thursday, which is set to tip off at 8 p.m. from the United Center in Chicago. The game will be broadcast on NBA TV.
The Timberwolves are 8-point road favorites over the Bulls on the spread (Wolves -8), with the over/under currently at 228 points. The Wolves are -340 favorites on the moneyline to win outright, while Chicago is +270 to pull off the upset.
Let's dive into my Timberwolves vs. Bulls predictions and my NBA picks for Thursday, November 7.
Timberwolves vs. Bulls Picks, Predictions
Moneyline
I do not have a moneyline pick for this game, but I am betting on one team to cover the spread.
Spread
My Timberwolves vs. Bulls best bet is on Chicago to cover the spread. The best line is available at bet365, but make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Over/Under
It isn't my favorite bet for the contest, but I would lean toward the under in this matchup.
Pick: Bulls +8
Timberwolves vs. Bulls Odds
| Timberwolves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-8 -110 | 228 -110 / -110 | -340 |
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+8 -110 | 228 -110 / -110 | +270 |
- Timberwolves vs. Bulls Odds: Timberwolves -8
- Timberwolves vs. Bulls Over/Under: 228 points
- Timberwolves vs. Bulls Moneyline: Timberwolves -340, Bulls +270
Timberwolves vs. Bulls Preview
The Timberwolves have a rest advantage in Thursday's matchup after the Bulls suffered a 20-point defeat at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Zach LaVine (thigh) did not play against the Mavericks, but may be able to play against his former team on Thursday.
The Timberwolves have played pretty well this season, with their excellence on the defensive side of the ball being the most important factor thus far. Minnesota has the third-best Adjusted Defensive Rating in the league and they are playing at the sixth-slowest Pace in the league, so every game feels like a battle.
However, they have been relatively average on the offensive side of the ball, and are actually outperforming their expected eFG% by about 3%. In other words, they are shooting better than we should expect. Minnesota is relying on tremendous volume from 3-point range, and they've shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc as a team.
The problem with this, is that Chicago has defended the 3-point line well this season. They are limiting their opponents' 3-point frequency to below league-average, and their opponents are shooting just 31.6% from beyond the arc, the third-worst mark in the NBA, per Cleaning the Glass.
This is a similar setup on the other side of the floor, where Chicago takes a lot of 3-point attempts and Minnesota defends them well. However, Chicago is shooting about 2% worse than expected when looking at their eFG% – they have some room to grow.
Considering Chicago plays so fast, this is a Pace Up spot for the Timberwolves, and I would look for Rudy Gobert props whenever they open. He has averaged 14.9 points and 16.6 rebounds in head-to-head matchups with Nikola Vucevic since the 2019-2020 season. There should be plenty of opportunities to clean the glass.
Timberwolves vs. Bulls Prediction
Chicago is not necessarily a good team. However, they are stylistically a tougher matchup for the Wolves. I have this game projected at Bulls +5.3, so I'll grab the points with the home underdogs.
I don't see a ton of value on the total, but I would lean toward the under. If I was going to build an SGP I'd look for the Bulls ATS, the under, and Gobert overs on his rebounding props.
Best Bet: Bulls +8 (-110)
Same Game Parlay: Bulls +8, Under 228, Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 Rebounds (+445)
Timberwolves vs. Bulls Starting Lineups
Timberwolves Starting Lineup
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Anthony Edwards
SF: Jaden McDaniels
PF: Julius Randle
C: Rudy Gobert
Bulls Starting Lineup
PG: Josh Giddey
SG: Coby White
SF: Zach LaVine (Questionable)
PF: Patrick Williams
C: Nikola Vucevic
Timberwolves vs. Bulls Viewing Info: Channel, Start Time, Streaming
| Location: | United Center in Chicago |
| Date: | Thursday, November 7 |
| Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming Options: | NBA TV |
