Is Lonzo Ball playing tonight against Minnesota Timberwolves? Latest on Bulls guard's anticipated return (Oct. 16)

Lonzo Ball seems on track to return from a near 34-month injury hiatus for the Chicago Bulls' preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The veteran point guard last played on January 14, 2022 before going down with a left knee injury that needed three surgeries to recover from.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Bulls are targeting Ball's return against the Timberwolves, and that's the latest around his availability. The former LA Lakers' lottery pick has been active during training camp.

He missed Saturday's shootaround with knee soreness, but reports of his availability on Wednesday surfaced on Monday. Bulls coach Billy Donovan also suggested that Ball's absence wasn't a setback.

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A successful return could do wonders for Lonzo Ball's career

Lonzo Ball enters a crucial season ahead of his comeback from injury. A successful return could do wonders for his NBA career despite a prolonged absence that could have jeopardized his league future. Nevertheless, Ball's IQ and skillset make him a must-have commodity on a contender.

At 26-years-old, he also has age on his side. Entering the final year of his $80 million contract with the Bulls, Ball will have the chance to prove his worth to the rest of the league and not just the Chicago team, which is seemingly entering a rebuild after this year. Ball could likely depart in free agency and sign elsewhere.

While his return has taken a long time, his exploits before his injury are still freshly engraved in everyone's minds. The Bulls were atop the Eastern Conference standings when he got injured. Ball was the key architect of their revival in a new era that started with him, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevice as the star quartet.

Lonzo Ball never played after appearing in 35 games. However, his contribution to the Bulls' 27-13 run was enough to ensure they broke their playoffs jinx, making it to the postseason as the fifth seed.

The Bulls didn't make the playoffs again after that year, with Ball's absence playing a part in their struggles. They missed his two-way presence and playmaking, in particular, that helped the other pieces mesh during the 2022-23 season.

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How to watch Lonzo Ball's return vs. Timberwolves?

Chicago Sports Network and Bally Sports North will provide local coverage of the Timberwolves-Bulls preseason game on Wednesday, featuring Lonzo Ball's return. The contest begins at 8:00 p.m. ET at the United Center, the Bulls' homecourt. NBA League Pass will be an online streaming option for viewers without cable TV access.