There are 20 games remaining in Lauri Markkanen’s third season, and he has much to prove. The Bulls’ cornerstone returned from a 15-game, pelvis-injury-induced absence Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves to encouraging results, scoring 13 points and nabbing four rebounds on 6-for-10 shooting (1-for-4 from deep) in an intentionally limited 21 minutes of action.
The Bulls dropped to 21-41 with a 115-108 loss to the now 19-42 ’Wolves (sans Karl-Anthony Towns) in the game, but that’s hardly the point. Down the stretch of this misbegotten third rebuilding season, the impetus must be on individual progression — wins and losses be damned.