Zach LaVine, Bulls outlast Wolves in overtime

[February 25, 2021]  Zach LaVine scored 35 points on 14-for-21 shooting, and the Chicago Bulls held on for a 133-126 overtime win against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Coby White added 20 points for the Bulls, and Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Tomas Satoransky scored 16 points for Chicago, which won its third game in a row.

Malik Beasley had 25 points to lead the Timberwolves, who lost their sixth straight game. Karl-Anthony Towns notched 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists before he fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

Ricky Rubio calmly made three free throws with 4.9 seconds left in regulation to even the score at 119. That capped a late rally by Minnesota, which trailed by 10 points with 4:04 to go in the fourth quarter.

Chicago opened the overtime session on a 7-0 run to regain control. Garrett Temple made a jump shot on the opening possession, Carter followed with a layup on the next possession, and LaVine capped the scoring binge with a 3-pointer off an assist from White.

At the end of the third quarter, Chicago held on to a 96-90 lead. A layup by Satoransky gave the Bulls a nine-point edge in the final minute of the quarter, but Towns answered with a 3-pointer with only 4.7 seconds remaining to pull the Timberwolves within six.

The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 14 points early in the third quarter, but they regrouped with a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 74-70 with 7:18 remaining in the session.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (9) and center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first half of an NBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulls raced to a 68-58 lead at the half.

Minnesota opened the game on a 7-0 run thanks to a layup by Anthony Edwards, a 3-pointer by Towns and a layup by Rubio.

But the advantage quickly slipped as the Timberwolves allowed the Bulls to pull even at 14-14 midway through the quarter.

The Bulls went on a 15-5 run in the second quarter to grab a 53-43 lead, which matched their largest advantage of the first half. LaVine punctuated the run with a reverse layup with 4:45 to go.

--Field Level Media
 

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