The United Center in Chicago hosts the final exhibition contest for the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, October 16, 2026. Tip-off for the National Basketball Association (NBA) preseason matchup is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Brasília Time (7:00 p.m. local Central Time in Chicago and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). Viewers in Brazil can follow the live stream exclusively through the NBA League Pass subscription platform, while local television coverage in the United States airs on the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).
Both franchises use this Friday (16) encounter to conclude their preparation before the official 2026-27 regular season begins. The home squad enters the arena holding a balanced preseason record of two wins and two losses after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 125-104 on the road on Wednesday (14). Meanwhile, the visiting roster from Minneapolis carries three wins and two losses during the exhibition calendar, coming off a 128-106 home defeat against the Detroit Pistons on the same Wednesday (14). In the most recent official regular-season game between the two sides on January 22, 2026, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-115.
Broadcast platforms and streaming details for the exhibition game
International coverage for the Brazilian audience is restricted to digital streaming via the league’s official on-demand service. In the domestic North American market, regional cable television carries the feed alongside streaming options. Arena gates at the United Center open to ticket holders at 5:30 p.m. Central Time, 90 minutes prior to the opening tip.
- Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
- Time in Brasília: 9:00 p.m. BRT
- Local time at the arena: 7:00 p.m. CDT (America/Chicago)
- Eastern time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Competition and stage: NBA — Preseason (preparation phase prior to official regular-season games)
- Broadcast in Brazil: NBA League Pass (streaming)
- Broadcast in the United States: Chicago Sports Network (CHSN)
Roster overhaul and injury updates for the Chicago Bulls under Tiago Splitter
Brazilian head coach Tiago Splitter directs the Illinois franchise after being hired on June 16, 2026, to replace former coach Billy Donovan. Splitter oversees a comprehensive roster reconstruction after the team finished the 2025-26 regular season in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 31 wins and 51 losses, missing both the Play-In Tournament (the qualification repechage round) and the Playoffs (the knockout postseason stage).
During the 2026 offseason, executive Bryson Graham reshaped the squad by trading away veterans Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic. To replenish the rotation, the front office acquired Norman Powell, Nicolas Claxton, and Buddy Hield, while also selecting rookies Caleb Wilson with the fourth overall pick and Dailyn Swain with the 15th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the league’s annual player recruitment process. Across the current preseason schedule, Leonard Miller leads the team in scoring with an average of 17.5 points per game, followed by Caleb Wilson at 15.8 points and 4.0 rebounds, and Norman Powell at 15.7 points per game.
In Wednesday’s (14) road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, forward Matas Buzelis paced the offense with 19 points, supported by Leonard Miller with 18 points and seven rebounds, shooting guard Norman Powell with 16 points, Jalen Smith with 15 points and seven rebounds, and rookie power forward Caleb Wilson with 10 points. Point guard Josh Giddey contributed six points, five rebounds, and nine assists in that outing. According to the medical report issued on Wednesday (14), center Nicolas Claxton (hamstring injury), Zach Collins (quadriceps), Isaac Okoro, and Tobe Awaka (knee) were listed as sidelined. Because Friday’s (16) game serves as the final rehearsal before the championship campaign, the coaching staff confirms the starting five only hours before tip-off.
Lineup adjustments and preseason metrics for the Minnesota Timberwolves
Led by head coach Chris Finch since 2021, the Minneapolis organization also executed major personnel changes during the 2026 offseason after finishing second in the Western Conference last season. Following the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid, management signed point guard LaMelo Ball, power forward Jonathan Kuminga, and guard Ayo Dosunmu, who faces his former Chicago teammates on Friday (16). The newcomers joined a core featuring shooting guard Anthony Edwards, forward Jaden McDaniels, center Rudy Gobert, and rookie Joan Beringer.
Throughout the 2026 exhibition slate, Anthony Edwards has topped the Minnesota scoring chart with an average of 19.8 points per game, while Jaden McDaniels has contributed 14.8 points and 4.2 rebounds, and LaMelo Ball has organized the offense with 5.8 assists per contest. In the loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday (14), Edwards led all team scorers with 20 points, trailed by Jonathan Kuminga (16 points, four rebounds, and three assists) and Jaden McDaniels (12 points and six rebounds). Coming off the bench, Joan Beringer and Ayo Dosunmu tallied 10 points apiece. On the injury front, shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo remains out for both the preseason finale and the start of the regular season after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon. Finch’s staff determines whether to deploy full-strength starters shortly before the game begins.
Officiating crew protocol and upcoming regular-season openers
The NBA assigns and publishes the official officiating roster—consisting of the Crew Chief and two assistants, designated as the Referee and the Umpire—exclusively on the day of each game. The league’s game-day bulletin finalizes the three-official rotation hours prior to tip-off at the United Center.
In head-to-head history prior to Chicago’s 120-115 road victory in Minneapolis in January 2026, the two clubs met at the United Center on December 29, 2025, where the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 136-101 win during the 2025-26 regular season. In the previous year’s exhibition calendar, on October 16, 2025, the Chicago Bulls won the preseason meeting between the franchises by a score of 126-120. Following the conclusion of the preparatory phase on Friday (16), both teams make their official 2026-27 regular-season debuts on Wednesday (21), when the Chicago Bulls take on the Toronto Raptors and the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Miami Heat.