Anthony Edwards scored 14 of his game-high 37 points during a pivotal third quarter and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 111-102 on Wednesday night.
D’Angelo Russell added 19 points, Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Kyle Anderson and Jaden McDaniels added 10 each and the Wolves used a 39-21 third quarter to take control with a 12-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
CJ McCollum scored 25 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Brandon Ingram returned from a 29-game absence due to a bruised toe to score 13 on 4-of-18 shooting in 26 minutes and Devonte’ Graham scored 12 to lead the Pelicans, who lost their sixth consecutive game.
Russell made two 3-pointers and Edwards converted a three-point play as the Wolves quickly turned a six-point halftime deficit into a one-point lead. That started a stretch of seven lead changes in a two-minute span.
McDaniels’ jumper completed a 15-0 run that gave Minnesota a 75-61 lead and the margin was 85-73 at the end of the third quarter.
McCollum scored nine straight New Orleans points and Ingram added four straight to trim the lead to 104-100 with 1:41 left, but McDaniels answered with a 3-pointer.
Ingram missed his first five shots and was the only Pelican out of 10 to play in the first quarter that didn’t score. But his teammates heated up after a cold start.
New Orleans made just 2 of its first 11 shots as the Wolves opened a seven-point lead, but the Pelicans used an 18-5 run to take a 28-22 lead. Minnesota got within three before Jose Alvarado made a 3-pointer and Willy Hernangomez had a dunk to leave New Orleans with a 34-26 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Russell scored the Wolves’ first six points of the second quarter and they got within three points.
The Pelicans rebuilt the lead and it reached 12 points when McCollum made a 3-pointer, but Edwards scored the final four points of the second quarter, leaving New Orleans with a 52-46 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
