The Timberwolves staged a comeback from a 18-point deficit but ultimately lost by 2 points. Edwards contributed 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Ball scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

The 2024-25 NBA preseason continued with a spotlight game where the Chicago Bulls faced the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. In this match, "Ball" made his comeback after being sidelined for two and a half years—1006 days exactly. The Timberwolves had lost to the Knicks in their last outing, marking their first preseason defeat, with a 2-1 record over three games. The Bulls, on the other hand, were 1-2 in their preseason games, having recently lost consecutive matches to the Grizzlies and Bucks. For this game, Randle, newly joined the Timberwolves, started alongside McDaniels, Edwards, Gobert, and Conley. The Bulls' starting lineup featured LaVine, Williams, Vucevic, White, and Giddey.

In the first quarter, both teams focused on perimeter shooting, generating numerous three-point opportunities. The Timberwolves shot 6-of-15 from beyond the arc, while the Bulls made 5-of-15, showing comparable performance. Edwards was aggressive early, scoring 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting from both inside and outside. DiVincenzo, coming off the bench, added energy with 6 points on 2-of-4 three-point shooting. The Bulls lacked a dominant scorer but had balanced contributions. The quarter ended 33-30, with the Timberwolves leading by 3 points. Ball made his return in this quarter, hitting both of his three-point attempts and displaying solid form.

The second quarter saw a sudden shift. The Bulls' offense flowed smoothly, combining drives and passes to overwhelm the Timberwolves. Their perimeter shooting remained strong, making 8-of-11 attempts (over 70% accuracy). This outside threat opened up interior opportunities, leading to a 41-point quarter. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves struggled; their three-point shooting was limited to just 3 makes at under 30% efficiency. With their outside game stifled, their interior offense also faced tight defense, resulting in only 25 points in the quarter and a deficit that stretched to 18 points. At halftime, the Timberwolves trailed 58-71 by 13 points.

After the break, the Timberwolves' outside shooting remained inefficient, hitting only 3-of-13 attempts, with Edwards making just 1-of-6. However, they generated many scoring chances inside. Minott emerged as a bench spark, scoring 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. Randle also stepped up, attacking the paint for 8 points on 7 attempts near the basket. The Bulls' shooting cooled off noticeably in this quarter. By the end of the third, the Timberwolves were down 90-98, trailing by 8 points.

In the final quarter, the Timberwolves rested all starters, while the Bulls kept White on the floor. With renewed perimeter firepower, the Timberwolves narrowed the gap to 3 points. DiVincenzo hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the game, leveling the score. After a timeout, Dozier sank another three, putting the Timberwolves ahead! The game then entered a tense stalemate. Horton-Tucker's three-pointer gave the Bulls a 3-point lead, prompting a Timberwolves timeout with 18 seconds left. Ultimately, the Bulls held their advantage, sealing a 125-123 victory, handing the Timberwolves their second consecutive preseason loss.

In this game, Edwards played 30 minutes, scoring 16 points with 3 rebounds and 3 assists on 6-of-23 shooting. Gobert added 13 points, 17 rebounds, and 1 steal; Randle contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists; DiVincenzo posted 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Bulls, LaVine had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists; Vucevic recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists; White scored 23 points with 2 rebounds and 4 assists; Ball, in 15 minutes of play, scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting along with 1 rebound and 1 assist.