Wolves Lose Heartbreaker To Bulls

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Martin hit a would-be game winning three-pointer with just seconds remaining, but Chicago's Jimmy Butler drew a foul and hit both free throws to give the Bulls a 106-105 victory.

The Timberwolves were behind for much of the game but were able to claw their way back with Martin leading the way with 33 points.

Newcomer Anthony Bennett had moments of brilliance, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

Bennett helped to pick up the slack after starter Thaddeus Young was lost for the game after an ugly collision at the end of the first half.

Ricky Rubio, fresh off signing his new contract extension, dished out 17 assists but scored only six points on 3-of-10 shooting.

After a strong run to get within two points of the Bulls, the Timberwolves looked to tie the game in the final seconds.

After Martin clanked a would-be game-tying jump shot, center Nikola Pekovic gathered the rebound but missed a contested close-range shot.

The ball was batted back to a wide-open Martin who buried the three pointer with Target Center erupting as the Timberwolves seemed to have completed an improbable 105-104 win over one the the Eastern Conference's best teams.

Following a timeout, the Bulls inbounded the ball to Butler who stumbled, recovered, and went up for a jump shot with rookie Andrew Wiggins bearing down on him.

Butler was able to fake Wiggins into the air and then drew contact to get to the foul line with two-tenths of a second remaining.

Butler buried both free throws which effectively ended the game as the Timberwoves fall to 1-2 on the season after the 106-105 defeat.

The Wolves will look to rebound in Brooklyn as the take on the Nets on Wednesday.