The Minnesota Timberwolves keep finding ways to win. On Friday night in New Orleans, they beat the Pelicans 115-109 in NBA Cup group play. It was their third win in a row, and it came without their top star.
The Pelicans had won four straight games coming in. They stayed close for most of the night. A big fourth quarter finally decided it.
How the Game Played Out
Minnesota Timberwolves jumped out fast. They had five three-pointers in the quarter which included two from Ayo Dosunmu. It gave Minnesota Timberwolves an early 13-5 lead. New Orleans Pelicans then hit back with three threes from Karlo Matkovic during a 17-4 run. Jeremiah Fears put New Orleans Pelicans up 24-22.
The game stayed tight through the middle. New Orleans Pelicans won the quarter 28-20 and led for stretches. Dejounte Murrays three-pointer made it 89-87 for New Orleans Pelicans with 7:55 left.
That is when LaMelo Ball took over. LaMelo Ball scored five points and sparked a 10-2 run that put Minnesota Timberwolves up 97-91. The Wolves never gave the lead back.
They finished the fourth quarter with 38 points, compared with 30 for New Orleans. The Pelicans kept fighting, but still Minnesota’s defence and calm shooting left no door.
The two teams came in with different styles. New Orleans scored a bit more per game, about 120 points compared with Minnesota’s 118. But the Wolves grabbed far more rebounds, around 49 a night against 44. That edge on the glass helped them in the closing minutes.
Key Players and Numbers
Ayo Dosunmu led Minnesota Timberwolves with 26 points. Ayo Dosunmu shot 8-of-14 from the field, hit four threes and made all six of his throws. Ayo Dosunmu also added four assists.
Jaden McDaniels was just as important. Jaden McDaniels scored 23 points grabbed six rebounds and handed out five assists. LaMelo Ball ended with 22 points on 15 shots. LaMelo Ball played a 35 minutes and Minnesota Timberwolves outscored New Orleans Pelicans by 23 points while LaMelo Ball was on the floor.
Those 35 minutes were a season for LaMelo Ball, which shows how much the coaching staff trusts LaMelo Ball with the game on the line. Minnesota Timberwolves shot 54% from the field while LaMelo Ball played and assisted on two‑thirds of Minnesota Timberwolves baskets.
For the Pelicans, Jeremiah Fears scored 24 points with five rebounds and five assists. Saddiq Bey added 17. Zion Williamson had a rare quiet night, with only 13 points. He had been averaging 21.5.
Williamson still made plays for others. He set up a dunk for Jeremiah and an alley-oop for Trey Murphy III. Even so, Minnesota’s defence limited his scoring chances inside, and that hurt New Orleans most.
The Wolves shot 43% overall, and they made 12 of 39 threes. That number could have been far better. Many of their misses came from wide open looks, so the final margin might have grown
Injuries and What the Coach Said
Minnesota Timberwolves again played without Anthony Edwards, who is injured. Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. Also missed his straight game with a bruise. Then another blow came in the half. Big man Joan Beringer left with a bloodied nose.
Still Minnesota Timberwolves found a way. Coach Chris Finch explained what changed late in the game. Coach Chris Finch said that once Minnesota Timberwolves found spacing “things really opened up for us.” That spacing gave LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmua great room to attack.
Jonathan Kuminga hit a 26‑foot three‑pointer after a pass from Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert added a tip‑in dunk at a moment. Those small plays kept the lead from shrinking
It was a response for a team missing its leading scorer. Ayo Dosunmu has been a part of that. Since moving into the starting lineup Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 21 points per game while shooting well from the field and from deep. I appreciated how Ayo Dosunmu stepped up.
Fans will remember that these teams also met in February. In that game the New Orleans Pelicans came back from 18 points down to win 119-115 in Minneapolis. This time, the result went the other way.
What It Means Going
For Minnesota Timberwolves the win lifts Minnesota Timberwolves to 7-3 on the season and 2-0, in NBA Cup play. The NBA Cup matters because group results can lead to a knockout round and a trophy. A perfect start gives Minnesota Timberwolves a base.
Cup games also count in the regular-season standings, so every result does double duty. That is why a 2-0 start is a nice bonus for Minnesota. It helps both its record and its Cup hopes at the same time.
The bigger worry is health. Edwards is still out, and Beringer’s nose injury adds another question mark. Depth will matter more over the coming weeks.
For New Orleans, the loss ends the winning streak and drops the team to 4-5, and 0-1 in Cup play. Still, there were good signs. Fears played like a rising star, and the Pelicans stayed in the game until the final minutes.
