NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Edwards scored 37 points, Rudy Gobert returned from a groin injury with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat New Orleans 111-102. , ruined Brandon Ingram returning from a two-month absence. Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
D’Angelo Russell has 19 points for the Timberwolves, who have won 3 of 4. Jaden McDaniels capped off a 10-point night with a pull-up jumper and a 3-pointer in the final minutes to thwart New Orleans’ comeback bid.
Ingram, who has not played since November 25 and has missed 29 games with a left toe injury, scored 13 points but struggled with his shots, including all six attempts from deep. Missed 14 of 18 times.
CJ McCallum scored 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans.
New Orleans’ frustration boiled over midway through the fourth quarter when Jose Alvarado was called for a foul on a loose ball after Austin Rivers missed a 3 and hit the technical mark when he bounced the ball hard off the floor. Rated.
Pelicans coach Willie Green began yelling and gesturing angrily and was assessed a technical foul. He had to be restrained by an assistant.The crowd rose and roared in support of Green as he walked toward the tunnel.
After Minnesota hit three of the five free throws awarded, New Orleans trailed 102-87, but the Pelicans responded by scoring the next nine points – all by McCallum – with the rest. It went 102-96 at 3:27.
McDaniels’ pull-up stopped the run. And with Ingram a tough baseline he hit a turnaround and with 1:41 remaining he added two free throws to make him 104-100 before McDaniels hit a crucial 3 and The Pelicans posed no threat after that.
The Timberwolves trailed by eight early in the third quarter and were capped on a driving layup when Russell’s three shots in a row ignited a 9–0 run and Edwards was fouled.
After McCollum’s 3 put the Pelicans back in front at one point 61-60, Edwards hit a 3 to start a 14-0 Minnesota run. The spurt included his three dunks by Gobert. One is reverse and the other is alley-oop.
Minnesota edged New Orleans 39-21 in the third quarter.
Ingram missed his first five shots before hitting a driving floater early in the second quarter, ending the first half 2-of-11.
Still, New Orleans led by as much as 12 in the second quarter when McCollum’s 3 made it 48-36.
Minnesota cut to 52–46 at halftime after Edwards hit a driving finger roll that scored 20 points in the 24th minute of the start.
tip in
Wolves: Kyle Anderson scores 10 points. … shooting 48.8% (40 of 82) and 3 points he scored 11 of 29 from range. … outpaced New Orleans in the paint, and in fast break he scored 50-40 and he scored 18-4. … missed 8 of 28 free throws.
Pelicans: Devonte ‘Graham hit all four shots he attempted. All in all he scored 12 points, out of a 3 point range. … shot 43.5% (37 of 85) and went 12 of 38 from deep. …he beat Minnesota 42-36 on rebounds.
next
Timberwolves: Host Memphis Friday Night.
Pelicans: Host Washington on Saturday Night.
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