Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls Pick & Prediction for Monday December 29 2025

By: Kim Smith Published 12/29/2025, 12:05 AM ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to the United Center to face the Chicago Bulls on Monday night at 8:00 PM ET in Chicago. This cross-conference matchup features two teams heading in different directions recently, with Minnesota looking to steady itself after a short skid and Chicago trying to stay above .500 on its home floor. Make sure you are ready for all the NBA action with our free NBA picks.

Minnesota Timberwolves Season Overview

Minnesota enters this game with a 20–12 overall record and an 8–6 mark on the road, positioning itself firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture. Offensively, the Timberwolves have been efficient all season, averaging 118.8 points per game on 48% shooting, while defensively they’ve held opponents to 114.7 points per contest. That balance has been a key reason they’ve been able to win away from home more often than not.

The recent form hasn’t been perfect, as Minnesota has dropped two straight games, including an overtime road loss followed by a home defeat. Still, they are 3–2 over their last five, and the underlying numbers remain strong. This is a team that typically responds well after losses, especially when defensive focus improves late in games. Injury-wise, Minnesota comes in relatively healthy, which matters for a team that relies on rhythm and rotation consistency.

Chicago Bulls Season Overview

Chicago comes into the matchup at 15–16 overall and 8–7 at home, continuing a season defined by streakiness. Offensively, the Bulls have kept pace with Minnesota, scoring 118.8 points per game on 47% shooting, but the defensive side has been a persistent issue. Chicago is allowing 122.0 points per game, a number that puts constant pressure on their offense to keep games close.

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Despite that, the Bulls had been playing well prior to their most recent loss, going 4–1 over their last five games. Several of those wins came in high-tempo, high-scoring affairs, which is where Chicago is most comfortable. The concern here is availability, as the Bulls have multiple players listed as questionable along with a long-term absence, which could thin their rotation and affect consistency, especially late in the game.

Matchup Breakdown

Statistically, this matchup leans toward Minnesota. While both teams score at the same rate, the Timberwolves are far more reliable defensively, giving up over seven fewer points per game than Chicago. Minnesota is also better at controlling pace and limiting mistakes, which becomes critical in road games where momentum swings quickly.

Chicago does rebound well and can turn games into track meets, particularly at home, but if Minnesota forces half-court possessions, the Bulls’ defensive issues tend to surface. ESPN’s matchup predictor reflects this gap, favoring Minnesota despite Chicago having home-court advantage.

Pick & Final Score Prediction

I’m backing Minnesota to win this game. The Timberwolves are the more complete team, especially on defense, and I trust their ability to settle in after recent losses. Chicago’s offense can keep this competitive for stretches, but their defensive inefficiency makes it hard to sustain that level for four quarters. Minnesota pulls away late, using defensive stops and efficient scoring to secure a solid road win. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for the Bulls with the Fliff promo code. The best sportsbooks are the best way to go when you are betting on the Timberwolves. Make sure when you place your Bulls vs Timberwolves bet you are using the bet365 bonus code.

Final Score Prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves 119, Chicago Bulls 112