The last time the Bulls visited the Target Center, they lost by a franchise-record 53 points, Tim Floyd questioned his team’s effort and Charles Oakley responded with enough oral grenades to draw a $50,000 fine.
Even without Oakley and Floyd, Tuesday night rekindled some memories, especially when Minnesota got on pace for a 52-point victory after one quarter.
The Timberwolves, matching their point total from that Nov. 8, 2001, debacle, settled for a 127-101 triumph in their exhibition home opener. But the Bulls’ lackluster performance led coach Bill Cartwright to utter some pointed words.
“When the season starts, we’re going to put the best players on the floor,” he said. “There are no guaranteed starting positions. We’re going to use the people who want to guard.”
Minnesota shot 60 percent, scored 62 points in the paint and 30 on the fast break. The Bulls also were outrebounded 45-32.
“That just cannot happen during the season,” Cartwright said. “We have to be tougher up front.”
Four minutes into the game, Cartwright pulled Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler in disgust and they sat for the remainder of the quarter.
“I don’t know if it was effort or what,” Curry said. “But we have to improve.”
Kevin Garnett, with 13 first-quarter points, consistently turned and shot easily over Trenton Hassell, who ceded six inches to the 6-foot-11-inch forward. Garnett narrowly missed a triple double in just 29 minutes, finishing with 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
Jamal Crawford tallied 20 points and five assists in just 23 minutes to lead the Bulls, who dropped to 1-3 in exhibitions. For the second straight game, Cartwright played Crawford with Jay Williams in one stretch. Williams finished with 18 points in 34 minutes.
Players love exhibition games because it gives them a chance to run against players other than those they are tired of seeing in practice. Coaches dislike these games because it robs them of practice time.
The Bulls concluded their second set of back-to-back games against Minnesota and have another set Friday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers and Saturday in Memphis.
General manager Jerry Krause, who signs off on the scheduling, admits he doesn’t want three sets of back-to-back games next season. But Krause pointed to the Bulls’ exhibition schedule ending early, a full week before the Oct. 30 regular-season opener in Boston, as a benefit.
“We talked about wanting that with a young team,” Krause said. “We have a week to teach before the season.”
Layups: Jalen Rose, who has right knee tendinitis, and Donyell Marshall and Eddie Robinson, who have sore right hamstrings, skipped their fourth straight game. Cartwright expects all to practice Wednesday. . . . Fred Hoiberg turned 30 on Tuesday.
