Our Chicago Bulls shocked Ayo Dosunmu’s Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Saturday night, handing the 9-4 Wolves just their second home loss of the young season, a 117-106 decision with some surprise heroes!
The Bulls notched their second straight victory in as many nights, despite sitting their three top big men in Caleb Wilson, Jalen Smith, and Nic Claxton. Chicago, as you’ll recall, is also fresh off of salvaging an overtime nail-biter against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Norman Powell and Matas Buzelis each enjoyed big nights, while reserves Tre Jones, Buddy Hield, and… Patrick Williams (no, really) helped contribute to a well-rounded offensive attack. Zach Collins was Tiago Splitter’s starting five.
Chicago logged a respectable defensive effort — Rudy Gobert did not convert a single basket, while LaMelo Ball struggled to shoot from everywhere (although he did notch a decent stat line).
Most stunningly of all, though, ninth man Patrick Williams enjoyed his second straight strong game off the bench, proving to be a powerful two-way force. Let’s get into it.
A Night of Surprises Against the Timberwolves
Splitter once again started Isaac Okoro next to Powell, rounding out his first five with Josh Giddey, Buzelis, and Collins.
That starting unit looked a bit wonky to kick off the night, straying from the Bulls’ typical strategy of fast-breaking aggression.
This is the antithesis of what the Bulls offense should look like. Walk it up, don't get inside the three-point arc until 5 seconds on the shot clock. No tempo, no thrust. Not their game. pic.twitter.com/JgUBTXK5oY
— Will Gottlieb (@WillGottlieb) November 15, 2026But the Bulls would soon take control of the night. The Timberwolves started the game going 0-for-12 from long range. Minnesota missed all 10 of its attempts in the first quarter, a big reason Chicago went up by double digits heading into the second period, 29-17.
Minnesota guard Jaylen Clark, an energy bench piece, left the court for the locker room during the game’s second quarter. The Timberwolves later ruled him out for the night with right hamstring soreness.
As has been happening a lot since Isaac Okoro was inserted into the starting lineup last weekend, the Bulls trotted out to a surprising first-half lead, pacing the Timberwolves 58-45. Matas Buzelis (!) was red-hot, scoring 14 points on 5-of-6 field goal shooting and 2-of-2 free throw shooting.
Matas sneaking in with the DUNK? He's already put up 14 points in the first half? pic.twitter.com/DjaNpOp2WM
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) November 15, 2026Things took a turn early into the third quarter. Propelled by Ayo Dosunmu on both ends, Minnesota quickly erased Chicago’s double-digit advantage.
TOO. QUICK. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Jcgl7gOJEw
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 15, 2026A 13-0 Timberwolves run midway through the frame cut the game to a single-possession affair, even with Splitter swapping out a bench + Okoro lineup after the first eight of those points. Minnesota got as close as a point, 65-64. Buddy Hield stopped the bleeding with a pull-up iso jumper.
Chicago went on a 15-5 run to create some separation and reclaim their double-digit lead late in the frame. Suddenly, though, the Bulls allowed the faster Timberwolves to blow by them within the arc, prompting frustration fouls and allowing Minnesota to chip away at Chicago’s advantage.
Patrick Williams, a hero off the bench against Atlanta on Friday night in the stead of Matas Buzelis, showed off a solid two-man game next to Buzelis during their minutes together.
As CHSN’s Scott Williams observed, the shots stopped falling and both squads started focusing on higher-percentage interior drives, showing off some ’90s-style basketball.
Tre Jones outplayed Josh Giddey in the third quarter. Despite his relatively tiny NBA frame, he exhibited a positively Powell-esque flair for finishing around the cup.
Right place, right time for the and-1!@CHSN__ | @Tre3Jones pic.twitter.com/zx8mkCwXOR
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 15, 2026Minnesota narrowly outscored Chicago, 35-30, to head into the fourth quarter down just 88-80. Buzelis and Powell had 16 points a piece through the first three quarters, although the Bulls bench was shockingly competent, too. Chicago had notched a +16 across those three quarters.
Splitter, who’s been toggling his rotations all year, benched Giddey for much of the fourth quarter, before ultimately opting for an insanely risky lineup of Jones and Giddey in the backcourt, Powell and Okoro at the wing, and Williams at small-ball center — with an exhausted Gobert riding pine. With Giddey as his tallest player, Chicagoan Timberwolves Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. quickly rallied with 7-2 run to shrink the Bulls’ lead to just seven points, 113-106.
But… Patrick Williams’ strong two-way play (no, seriously) sealed the deal late.
Pat making BIG plays in crunchtime!@CHSN__ | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/HWKnCBRf2l
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 15, 2026LaMelo Ball had a deeply inefficient game, and was particularly atrocious from long range. Gobert finished with one point on 0-of-7 field goal shooting and 1-of-2 free throw shooting, 10 rebounds, four assists, and a block in just 27 minutes. Ball had 19 points on 7-of-25 field goal shooting (4-of-19 from deep) and 1-of-2 free throw shooting, plus seven rebounds, six assists, and four swipes.
The Bulls logged a second straight 40 percent-plus shooting night from deep, this time going 14-of-30 from beyond the arc. Hield’s 4-of-6 shooting from that range led the way, but Buzelis, Powell, Giddey, and Williams all made at least two triples.
Hield, Jones, and Williams each had 15 or more points off the bench, helped power the Bulls reserves to a whopping 51-point night — 18 points better than the Timberwolves’ bench effort.
Minnesota had been leading the league in rebounds heading into the night. But Chicago apparently read the scouting report, and actually notched one more board than the Timberwolves for a 55-54 edge in that stat.
Full Box Score
Hence then, the article about powell buzelis and bulls bench shock timberwolves 117 106 chicago now 2 0 without caleb was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Powell, Buzelis, and Bulls Bench Shock Timberwolves 117-106! Chicago Now 2-0 Without Caleb )
Also on site :
- NBC pays tribute to late broadcaster Dan Hicks before Notre Dame-Boston College game: ‘Still in disbelief’
- 2026 Swiss SC Championships: Day 2 Recap, Viquerat Breaks Another Record, Ponti and Mityukov Pick Up More Event Wins
- Paul Finebaum blasts Oklahoma AD for ‘pathetically pandering’ after ripping SEC for Ole Miss postponement