3. Dec. 26, 2018: Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
For the second straight year, this matchup cracks my top five most intriguing games on the Bulls’ schedule. As most fans may recall, Tom Thibodeau coached the team for five years before being unceremoniously dismissed following the 2014-15 season.
Thibodeau has bounced back just fine, however, as he is now the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves. On top of that, he has been a thorn in Chicago’s side, having taken three of the four meetings between the ball clubs since he relocated to the Twin Cities.
Last year’s matchup between these two teams featured an epic battle between Zach LaVine and Jimmy Butler. Although Butler won the statistical battle, the Bulls overcame a 17-point deficit thanks to LaVine’s 15 points in the final frame.
Adding yet another wrinkle to his matchup is the fact that another former Bull is now playing for Minnesota — Derrick Rose. The contest between these two teams at the United Center was a memorable one and I have a sneaky suspicion that will be the case this time around as well.