Dunn, LaVine can't save Bulls from bad loss in return to Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS - Pregame introductions told an interesting story in Minnesota.
The first two Bulls introduced before Saturday's game used to play for the Timberwolves. Kris Dunn barely drew a murmur from the crowd, then Zach LaVine was given a standing ovation from fans at the Target Center.
Dunn lost the point guard matchup handily as Minnesota's Jeff Teague scored 25 points and the Timberwolves pulled away late to beat the Bulls 122-104, a day after all-star Jimmy Butler suffered a knee injury. LaVine led the Bulls with 21 points.
"I'm not trying to worry about all the other stuff," Dunn said. "Zach, he deserved a standing ovation. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out how to get my flow back, get my rhythm back because I've been out for a month. We've got new guys starting, so I'm trying to find a flow of the game."
After getting an MRI on Saturday, Butler was diagnosed with a meniscus cartilage injury and there seems to be hope he can return by the playoffs.
LaVine was a budding star in his three season with the Timberwolves, until tearing the ACL in his left knee last February. Highlights from his two slam dunk contest victories were shown on the video board in tribute.
Dunn struggled as a rookie and didn't play much last year. He got the chance for a breakaway dunk in the first quarter and tried to throw down a two-hander with some emphasis, but the ball bounced out of the rim. Fortunately for Dunn, teammate David Nwaba followed in the miss and Dunn was able to land on his feet. He lost his balance on a similar dunk attempt on Jan. 17 at the United Center, landed face-first and missed 11 games with a concussion.
"Yeah, I tried to bang it," Dunn joked. "They lucky it rimmed out."
Using Nwaba and center Cristiano Felicio in the starting lineup for the second-straight game, the Bulls got off to their second-straight slow start, falling behind 17-6 early. The Bulls recovered to win the second quarter 38-29 and coach Fred Hoiberg called it one of their best quarters of the season.
"That second quarter was a thing of beauty," Hoiberg said. "We got stops, we were pushing it down the floor. The ball was flying up the floor, which was great. It all had to do with our pace."
The Bulls were within 83-82 in the final minute of the third quarter, but Jamal Crawford (19 points) knocked down 3 3-pointers during the next three minutes, then added an assist to Karl Anthony Towns as Minnesota pulled ahead 98-84.
Among the Bulls' new rotation players, Nwaba had another strong game, finishing with 14 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. Noah Vonleh had 8 points and 6 rebounds in 14 minutes. He made the first 3 shots from 3-point range as a Bull, then finally missed late in Saturday's third quarter.
Rookie Lauri Markkanen matched his season-low of 3 points for the second game in a row.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls