These are not the 2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves.

Last year’s Wolves dominated teams defensively and made the life out of opponents with that style of play. Several five-minute periods of stops and endless steals led to transition baskets at the other end and usually led to curtains on the contest at some point.

These Wolves rely more on offense. They’ll score alongside you, hoping for streaks you can’t match, and beat you that way.

That was the case Thursday in Chicago.

Chicago exploded offensively on Thursday. The Bulls shot 42 percent from 3-point range. The Bulls ran a layup lane through the paint for large segments of the game — and Minnesota won 135-119.

Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 33 points in the fourth frame and Rudy Gobert added 11 in the fourth quarter as Minnesota scored 41 points in the first 10 minutes of the final frame before the regulars were drawn in with game well in hand.

“We built up our energy the whole game,” Gobert said in his postgame televised interview. “I like the way we moved the ball in the fourth.”

While this Wolves team isn’t the same defensively dominant team — almost historically — a year ago, they are well-equipped to take advantage of subpar defensive teams like Chicago. Minnesota buried 16 3-pointers while scoring 66 points in the paint. All five starters scored over 14 points. Julius Randle had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Minnesota outshot Chicago 40-33.

The Bulls (3-6) — who were back and without Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball — started the game in red, hitting six of their first seven 3-point attempts. Nikola Vucevic finished with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting. But Chicago went ice cold in the fourth, missing a series of good looks. Chicago scored just six points in a span that spanned nearly six minutes in the fourth.

That’s the bet Minnesota (5-3) can make now that it couldn’t in the past — it can hit shots at a more sustained rate than you can.

The Wolves return to action Friday against Portland at Target Center.