CHICAGO _ More than 2 { years have passed since the Bulls traded Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves on draft night in 2017, a move that changed the trajectory of both organizations. The trade started the Bulls down their current rebuilding path, while the Wolves were hopeful it would catapult them toward contention.
The Bulls hoped to be further along by now in a rebuilding process that is starting to show cracks in the foundation this season. They expected more nights to resemble Wednesday night's 117-110 victory against the Wolves in which the two most important players acquired in that deal, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen, carry them.
LaVine (25 points) and Markkanen (21) led the Bulls in scoring; it was Markkanen's first 20-point game since Jan. 6. The Bulls are 4-2 this season when both players score 20.
The Wolves, meanwhile, arrived at the United Center scuffling in their first full season without Butler, now with the Heat, who began the day second in the Eastern Conference. The Wolves, who are 13th in the Western Conference, dropped their seventh straight game.
"Young, developing teams, teams that at times in the year have played really good basketball and at times played poor basketball," Bulls coach Jim Boylen said, drawing parallels between the teams before the game. "A team that's had a losing streak; we've had a losing streak. A team that's had injury to a primary guy. We've had injuries to a primary guy."
The Bulls led by 19 in the first half, a lead that was erased by the third quarter as the Wolves stormed back. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 40 points and Andrew Wiggins had 25, but the Bulls were able to hold on thanks to a strong game from their two best players _ performances they hope they can receive more often.
The third player the Bulls received in the Butler trade, Kris Dunn, contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Cristiano Felicio had a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in 22 minutes off the bench.
.jpg?w=600)
