Edwards, Timberwolves hand short-handed Pelicans 122-101 loss
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and had a season-high eight assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 122-101 on Wednesday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 20 rebounds to help Minnesota win its fourth straight game.
New Orleans was without its two leading scorers, with Zion Williamson out for personal reasons and CJ McCollum sidelined for the second straight game by a collapsed lung.
“Regardless of who we play, who's hurt, we know that our biggest opponent is ourselves,” Gobert said. “I'm really proud the way we came out. We came out regardless of who's on the court. It's still the NBA, and guys are talented.”
The Pelicans struggled to fill the void on offense. Brandon Ingram was one of the only Pelicans who produced much offensively in the first half, leading the way with 17 of his team-high 24 points in the first half.
Jordan Hawkins added 14 points for the Pelicans, who have lost three straight after opening 4-1. New Orleans shot 38.7% from the floor.
“Definitely a tough loss, a frustrating loss for our guys,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “The effort was there. We all know we had some individuals and guys out. But give them credit. They took care of business on their home floor.”
Minnesota was hot from 3-point range early. The Wolves hit five of their first six shots from deep to grab a 17-6 lead. Mike Conley connected on four 3-pointers in the first half to extend Minnesota’s advantage.
The Timberwolves were 14 of 27 from deep in the first half, making more 3-pointers than New Orleans attempted (12).
“We just let them be too comfortable,” Green said. "Guarding the ball is a priority, and we didn't do a great job of that in the first half."
Minnesota let a big lead slip away against Atlanta earlier this season. The Timberwolves were determined not to let that happen again.
The Wolves increased their halftime lead and kept their foot on the gas well into the fourth quarter when the game was already decided.
“I like the fact that we didn't let up,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “We didn't have any mental lapses. There was no immaturity out there when it came to screwing around with the game when we had it right where we wanted it, which we'd been prone to do.”
Edwards, who drew a few “MVP!” “MVP!” chants from the crowd at Target Center, was a facilitator on offense for Minnesota. He also continued his strong defensive play, finishing with a pair of blocks that included a chase down play to thwart a Dyson Daniels layup.
Third-year forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was in the starting lineup for his season debut with the Pelicans. He had 11 points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Houston on Friday night.
Timberwolves: At San Antonio on Friday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Rudy Gobert (Brandon Ingram gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 |  | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:40 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl offensive rebound | ||
| 11:39 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl misses two point putback layup | ||
| 11:37 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 11:23 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Jeremiah Robinson-Earl draws the foul) | ||
| 11:23 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:06 | | +2 | Dyson Daniels makes two point driving finger roll layup (Brandon Ingram assists) | 2-0 |
| 10:41 | | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point pullup jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 2-3 |
| 10:22 | | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 4-3 |
| 10:10 | | Rudy Gobert turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 9:54 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:51 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 9:43 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:32 | | Dyson Daniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:29 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:24 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 9:13 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:10 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 8:58 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:57 | | Pelicans offensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:52 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 8:45 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 4-6 |
| 8:28 | | Dyson Daniels misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:25 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 4-9 |
| 7:56 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point turnaround jump shot (Dyson Daniels assists) | 6-9 |
| 7:40 | | Jonas Valanciunas personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 7:33 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup | 6-11 |
| 7:28 | | Dyson Daniels turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:13 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point pullup jump shot | 6-14 |
| 6:56 | | Jordan Hawkins misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:53 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 6:45 | | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point pullup jump shot | 6-17 |
| 6:45 | | Pelicans 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:30 | | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | ||
| 6:24 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point cutting layup (Dyson Daniels assists) | 8-17 |
| 6:01 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:59 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound | ||
| 5:49 | | Dyson Daniels misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 5:48 | | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point putback layup | 10-17 |
| 5:34 | | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:34 | | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | ||
| 5:28 | | Mike Conley personal foul (Jordan Hawkins draws the foul) | ||
| 5:12 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point driving layup | 12-17 |
| 4:58 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:54 | | Jordan Hawkins defensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 4:30 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 12-19 |
| 4:14 | | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Jordan Hawkins draws the foul) | ||
| 4:14 | | +1 | Jordan Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 13-19 |
| 4:14 | | +1 | Jordan Hawkins makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 14-19 |
| 4:14 | | +1 | Jordan Hawkins makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 15-19 |
| 4:03 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point cutting layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 15-21 |
| 3:42 | | Jordan Hawkins misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:40 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 3:35 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point running layup | ||
| 3:33 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:23 | | Matt Ryan misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:20 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 3:17 | | Matt Ryan personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 3:12 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:10 | | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | ||
| 3:02 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 17-21 |
| 2:46 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point driving layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 17-23 |
| 2:30 | | +3 | Matt Ryan makes three point jump shot (Kira Lewis Jr. assists) | 20-23 |
| 2:15 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:13 | | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | ||
| 2:10 | | Kyle Anderson personal foul (Matt Ryan draws the foul) | ||
| 2:10 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:02 | | Brandon Ingram turnover (bad pass) (Shake Milton steals) | ||
| 1:57 | | Shake Milton misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 1:52 | | Kira Lewis Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 1:45 | | Naz Reid shooting foul (Dereon Seabron draws the foul) | ||
| 1:45 | | +1 | Dereon Seabron makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-23 |
| 1:45 | | +1 | Dereon Seabron makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-23 |
| 1:31 | | Kyle Anderson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:21 | | Karl-Anthony Towns blocks Larry Nance Jr.'s two point cutting layup | ||
| 1:17 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:10 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (bad pass) (Larry Nance Jr. steals) | ||
| 1:08 | | Matt Ryan turnover (bad pass) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker steals) | ||
| 0:59 | | +2 | Shake Milton makes two point driving layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 22-25 |
| 0:59 | | Matt Ryan shooting foul (Shake Milton draws the foul) | ||
| 0:59 | | +1 | Shake Milton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 22-26 |
| 0:47 | | Matt Ryan turnover (traveling) | ||
| 0:36 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving finger roll layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 22-28 |
| 0:20 | | Kyle Anderson blocks Kira Lewis Jr.'s two point driving layup | ||
| 0:19 | | Pelicans offensive rebound | ||
| 0:13 | | +2 | Jordan Hawkins makes two point floating jump shot | 24-28 |
| 0:00 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | Matt Ryan defensive rebound | ||
| 11:23 | | +2 | Larry Nance Jr. makes two point hook shot (Jordan Hawkins assists) | 26-28 |
| 11:23 | | Rudy Gobert defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 11:04 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point layup (Shake Milton assists) | 26-30 |
| 10:47 | | +3 | Jordan Hawkins makes three point jump shot (Jeremiah Robinson-Earl assists) | 29-30 |
| 10:33 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl personal foul (Shake Milton draws the foul) | ||
| 10:23 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 29-33 |
| 10:12 | | Larry Nance Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:04 | | Rudy Gobert offensive foul (Dereon Seabron draws the foul) | ||
| 10:04 | | Rudy Gobert turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:58 | | Jordan Hawkins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:55 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point turnaround hook shot | 29-35 |
| 9:38 | | Dereon Seabron misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:32 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | Shake Milton turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:13 | | Matt Ryan turnover (traveling) | ||
| 9:04 | | Jordan Hawkins personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 8:50 | | Naz Reid misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:48 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 8:45 | | Jordan Hawkins turnover (bad pass) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 8:39 | | +3 | Shake Milton makes three point running jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 29-38 |
| 8:37 | | Pelicans 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:27 | | Jonas Valanciunas misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:25 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl offensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | Naz Reid shooting foul (Jeremiah Robinson-Earl draws the foul) | ||
| 8:24 | | +1 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-38 |
| 8:24 | | +1 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-38 |
| 8:09 | | Brandon Ingram personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 8:03 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 31-41 |
| 7:46 | | +2 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl makes two point pullup jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 33-41 |
| 7:37 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:33 | | Matt Ryan defensive rebound | ||
| 7:25 | | Jonas Valanciunas misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:21 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 7:11 | | Shake Milton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:09 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound | ||
| 7:03 | | Jonas Valanciunas misses two point layup | ||
| 6:59 | | Shake Milton defensive rebound | ||
| 6:58 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point running dunk (Mike Conley assists) | 33-43 |
| 6:42 | | Rudy Gobert blocks Jonas Valanciunas's two point layup | ||
| 6:39 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point running pullup jump shot | 33-46 |
| 6:14 | | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:10 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop dunk (Anthony Edwards assists) | 33-48 |
| 6:06 | | Pelicans 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:01 | | +3 | Brandon Ingram makes three point jump shot (Dyson Daniels assists) | 36-48 |
| 5:37 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 36-51 |
| 5:25 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot | 38-51 |
| 5:08 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 38-54 |
| 4:55 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 40-54 |
| 4:37 | | +3 | Kyle Anderson makes three point jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists) | 40-57 |
| 4:23 | | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point cutting dunk (Dyson Daniels assists) | 42-57 |
| 4:11 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:10 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | Dyson Daniels shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 4:09 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-58 |
| 4:09 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-59 |
| 4:00 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:53 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 3:45 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:43 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 3:42 | | Jordan Hawkins shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 3:42 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-60 |
| 3:42 | | Rudy Gobert misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:39 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 3:24 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot | 44-60 |
| 2:57 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving floating jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 44-62 |
| 2:43 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:39 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 2:23 | | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 44-65 |
| 2:00 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:59 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 1:34 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 44-67 |
| 1:19 | | Dyson Daniels misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 1:18 | | Pelicans offensive rebound | ||
| 1:18 | | Karl-Anthony Towns personal foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul) | ||
| 1:12 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:08 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 0:51 | | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 44-70 |
| 0:45 | | Dyson Daniels turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | ||
| 0:43 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point running dunk | 44-72 |
| 0:36 | | Jordan Hawkins turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 0:26 | | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:23 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Larry Nance Jr. misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 0:01 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Kyle Anderson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |