Zion Williamson scored 29 factors and CJ McCollum added 18 for New Orleans whereas the Pélicans shocked the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 119-115 victory on Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves misplaced two in a row after profitable 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 backwards and forwards throughout a lot of the remainder of the match, however Minnesota was by no means capable of set up a snug advance in opposition to the Pélicans.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 factors. Julius Randle added 17 and Mike Conley scored 16.
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Wednesday’s match was New Orleans’ first for the reason that 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 12 months, was injured within the defeat on Monday in opposition to Detroit.
Whereas Williamson was the dominant drive in assault, he had a whole lot of assist. Six totally different Pelicans scored double in opposition to a Timberwolves crew which was statistically top-of-the-line defenses within the League this season.
It ought to have been a simple rebound match for Minnesota after Monday’s defeat in opposition to Indiana. As a substitute, the Wolves couldn’t handle a Pelicans crew with solely six victories on the highway all season earlier than Wednesday.
By dragging two late factors, Minnesota couldn’t right a defensive rebound within the final minute. New Orleans has quite 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.
