Let’s be honest: that 60-point curb-stomping of the Loong-Lions wasn’t basketball, it was cardio with referees. That’s what the preseason is for: one part entertainment, one part lab experiment, and one part “please don’t let anyone get hurt.”
After two straight overtime losses, Minnesota needed a game like this. A palate cleanser. Something to remind everyone that yes, they can still score 134 points when the other team defends like a folding chair at the Home Depot paint counter. No starters played, and yet the Wolves still put on a highlight reel that looked like a Globetrotters roadshow.
Now, the real test begins: the Chicago Bulls, a team perpetually stuck in basketball purgatory that is too good to tank, too average to contend. The Bulls are that guy at your fantasy draft who drafts solid players but no stars.
The Wolves, meanwhile, are in a fascinating place. The Edwards Era has officially arrived, the vibes are good, and the roster is top-heavy but talented. After back-to-back OT heartbreaks, this Chicago game is the perfect tune-up: a chance for Ant and the starters to tighten the screws before the real show begins next week.
This is the preseason version of the “Is everything okay?” check-in text. The Wolves don’t need to win, they just need to look like the same squad that downed the Lakers and Warriors last spring. If the starters come out crisp, we’re good.
And hey, Wolves fans, if you missed the Loong-Lions Massacre of 2025, FanDuel Sports Network North has you covered for Thursday’s game in Chicago. Best of all, they’re still offering the 30-day free trial for all of us here on Canis Hoopus who don’t already have access to the channel. For those going old-school, the game’s also on KFAN FM, the Wolves app, and iHeart Radio.
* First 5,000 using the code SBNFALL30 get a free month
* Never miss a Timberwolves game. Stream all season long with FanDuel Sports Network
The bottom line: we’re one week away from real basketball. No more “Anthony Edwards played six minutes” box scores. No more “Julius Randle in warmups only.” Just 48 minutes of seeing whether this team can actually climb the Western mountain.
The Bulls are the appetizer. The regular season is the steak. And the Wolves, if they really want to be taken seriously, can’t afford to show up hungry and forget the knife.
See More:
* [Timberwolves Game Previews](/timberwolves-game-previews)