LDN - Sports

Timberwolves take control from start, whip Bulls

[December 27, 2018] Karl Anthony-Towns and Taj Gibson combined for all the scoring in an 8-0 burst to open the game that gave the Minnesota Timberwolves the lead for good in their 119-94 romp over the host Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Derrick Rose had a team-high 24 points to go with eight assists, while Towns recorded a 20-point, 20-rebound double-double for the Timberwolves, who completed a two-game, season-series sweep of the Bulls.

The 20-20 game was Towns' third of the season and eighth of his career. It was just the 21st 20-20 game of the NBA season. Only Detroit's Andre Drummond, with six, has more than Towns.

Zach LaVine came off the bench for a game-high 28 points for the Bulls, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Towns and Gibson had two hoops apiece in the early push that propelled Minnesota to as much as a 15-point lead in the first quarter and a 60-37 halftime advantage.

Chicago missed its first six shots and didn't score until Lauri Markkanen dropped in a hoop 3:51 into the game.

The Bulls got no closer than 16 in the second half.

Gibson had 16 points, Andrew Wiggins 14, Tyus Jones 13 and Dario Saric 12 for Minnesota, which completed a three-game trip with two wins after losing at San Antonio.

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Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose (25) dribbles the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn (32) during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Timberwolves outshot the Bulls 49.5 percent to 41.1 and outscored the hosts 33-18 on 3-pointers. Minnesota also outrebounded Chicago 52-45.

Markkanen finished with 16 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 12 with nine rebounds and Kris Dunn collected nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Chicago, which was coming off a 112-92 win at Cleveland on Sunday.

--Field Level Media

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