NEW ORLEANS – In an impressive display, Anthony Edwards shone for the Minnesota Timberwolves with a remarkable 32-point game, which included seven 3-pointers, leading the team to a 104-97 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. This game dulled the excitement surrounding Zion Williamson’s return after missing 27 games due to a left hamstring strain.
Williamson managed to contribute significantly with 22 points, accompanied by six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block within a 27-minute appearance, marking his seventh game of the season. Additionally, former Pelican Julius Randle added 16 points, while ex-LSU standout Naz Reid recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota. The Timberwolves maintained the lead for much of the contest, establishing a margin as large as 13 points, aided by Rudy Gobert’s defensive performance, which included 14 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Edwards made an explosive start, draining four early 3-pointers, accumulating 14 points in less than seven minutes. This game marked the ninth time this season that he has exceeded the 30-point threshold. For New Orleans, Dejounte Murray scored 27 points; however, CJ McCollum, who had recently scored 50 points in a prior game, struggled significantly, finishing with a mere 1-of-14 shooting performance, contributing to the Pelicans’ unfortunate record of 21 losses in their last 24 contests.
In terms of notable performances, the Timberwolves saw Donte DiVincenzo take on the starting point guard role for the second consecutive night, filling in for Mike Conley, who only made his second substitute appearance in 132 games with the team. DiVincenzo finished with 10 points while Conley added eight. On the other hand, Williamson and Murray demonstrated good synergy during their first game together this season, with two of Murray’s steals directly leading to explosive breakaway dunks by Williamson, including a stunning 360-degree slam. However, they ultimately needed more support to combat the Timberwolves effectively.
A pivotal moment in the game came during the third quarter when Edwards converted a free throw and sunk two 3-pointers, triggering a 19-2 scoring run that shifted the score from a 64-57 deficit to a 75-66 lead for Minnesota in just under four minutes. The Timberwolves maintained their lead for the remainder of the game.
A key statistic to note is that Edwards showcased remarkable shooting prowess, hitting 63.6% of his 3-point attempts. Looking ahead, the Timberwolves are set to visit Orlando on Thursday, while the Pelicans will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
