Zion Williamson scored 29 factors and CJ McCollum added 18 for New Orleans whereas the Pélicans stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 119-115 victory on Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves misplaced two in a row after successful eight in a row. Minnesota is in a battle with Golden State for the seeded of the Western Convention. Wednesday’s defeat drops the Minnesota a full recreation behind the Warriors.
After following 43-32 within the second quarter, the Pélicans carried out a sequence of 14-0 to take a 46-43 lead. The 2 groups went forwards and backwards throughout many of the remainder of the match, however Minnesota was by no means in a position to set up a cushty advance in opposition to the Pélicans.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 factors. Julius Randle added 17 and Mike Conley scored 16.
Wednesday’s match was New Orleans’ first because the lack of striker Trey Murphy III for the season with a proper shoulder damage. Murphy, who collected a median of 21.2 factors per recreation this yr, was injured within the defeat on Monday in opposition to Detroit.
Abbie Parr / AP
Pélicans: Whereas Williamson was the dominant drive in assault, he had loads of assist. Six totally different Pelicans scored double in opposition to a Timberwolves staff which was statistically the most effective defenses within the League this season.
Timberwolves: It ought to have been a straightforward rebound recreation for Minnesota after Monday’s defeat in opposition to Indiana. As a substitute, the Wolves couldn’t handle a Pelicans staff with solely six victories on the highway all season earlier than Wednesday.
By dragging two late factors, Minnesota couldn’t appropriate a defensive rebound within the final minute. New Orleans has moderately seized its eleventh match of the match, permitting Williamson to place a lay-up with 13.1 seconds remaining to ship Timberwolves followers on the exit.
Edwards was chilly from the bottom, pulling solely 5 out of 19 – together with 1 for 9 on the targets on the bottom in 2 factors.
The identical two groups play on Friday in Minneapolis on Friday.
