Chicago Bulls: 3 matchups to watch vs Timberwolves

Chicago Bulls matchup to watch: Nikola Vucevic vs Karl Anthony-Towns

Two of the game’s best offensive big men make this the key matchup by a wide margin. Vucevic is still getting used to things as a member of the Chicago Bulls while Towns is trying to make himself not used to the losing that has come early and often in his career with the Timberwolves.

Not only are both players essential in their team’s success, but they both also have holes in their games defensively. That creates an opportunity for both skilled big men to have big performances in this one.

Will the deciding factor be which of the two steps up defensively or which of the two takes advantage more successfully on offense? More likely it will be the latter.

For the Bulls, Vucevic needs to keep up his level of play so far and then some tonight. Let’s see the killer instinct from him to know he has a matchup he can take advantage of and do exactly that.

He’s shooting 41 percent from three so far as a member of the Bulls on 4.9 attempts per game. That spacing will help create opportunities for his teammates at the rim while also giving him more room to work his own game.

Towns is a very talented player but he can be exploited by opposing big men. If the Bulls are going to bounce back from their loss last game Vucevic will be one of the biggest reasons why.

This is also a chance to see how well he can hold his own against opposing big men. We know he isn’t a stellar defender or a very good rim protector, but keep a close eye on what he is able to do against Towns on defense.

Towns will get his like always, but Vucevic can show fans why he is going to be the franchise’s center for years to come.