Game ID: 22300471
New Orleans Pelicans @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 24 22 25 35 106NOP 27 32 33 25 117
MIN vs NOP ScoutingMIN vs NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIN availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restNEW McDaniels 30 to 35 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Milton missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT McLaughlin missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 12 min (109% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Milton missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 12 min since (109% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (25% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (137% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (131% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (129% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/10 · back-to-backBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (133% of 11)
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 17 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 11/29, returns tonight: 25 min (125% of 20)
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 18 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Hawkins missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 8 min (48% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 19 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 25 min since (125% of 20)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 20 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 8 min since (48% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Murphy III missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 21 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 17 min since (102% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Murphy III missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 17 min (55% of 30)
OUT Ryan missed 22 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 12 min since (74% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 23 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 17 min since (55% of 30)
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 22 min since (109% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Ryan missed 24 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 21 min since (68% of 30)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 14 min since (81% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Alvarado missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 17 min (91% of 18)
OUT Ryan missed 25 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 22 min since (72% of 30)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 34 and Towns at 16 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Ingram at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Murphy III (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 104 a night to Minnesota's 111 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 14. Call it Minnesota 112, New Orleans 110, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/26 @ OKC 106-129 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-129. MIN shot 47% (34 of 73) to OKC's 60%, 12 of 27 from three, and went to the line 32 times to OKC's 16 — 26 points from the stripe to their 13. MIN turned it over 21 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 25 (7 of 16, 2 of 5 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Conley added 17, Towns 16. Q2 was theirs, 25-26, but the other 3 periods went 103-81 against them. Edwards's -16 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 vs DAL 118-110 — MIN notes
MIN won 118-110. MIN shot 51% (38 of 74) to DAL's 44%, 17 of 33 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DAL's 19 — 25 points from the stripe to their 16. MIN turned it over 22 times to DAL's 16, and DAL turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 44 (12 of 23, 6 of 11 from three, 14 of 18 at the line); Gobert added 20, McDaniels 12. The hinge was Q1, 37-26: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/30 vs LAL 108-106 — MIN notes
MIN won 108-106. MIN shot 50% (38 of 76) to LAL's 42%, 12 of 34 from three, and got to the line 24 times to LAL's 32. MIN turned it over 19 times to LAL's 10, and LAL turned those into 12 steals. Edwards led with 31 (10 of 23, 2 of 8 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Reid added 21, Conley 15. The hinge was Q2, 32-26: MIN came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 4. Gobert was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/01 @ NYK 106-112 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-112. MIN shot 47% (36 of 76) to NYK's 44%, 11 of 28 from three. The glass went 34-49 against them. Edwards led with 35 (11 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Towns added 29, Gobert 10. Q4 was theirs, 28-18, the deficit cut from 16 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 94-78 against them. They led by as many as 11.
1/03 vs NOP 106-117 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-117. MIN shot 45% (37 of 82) to NOP's 56%, 10 of 31 from three, and went to the line 27 times to NOP's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. The glass went 28-41 against them. Edwards led with 35 (11 of 22, 4 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Towns added 22, McDaniels 11. Q4 was theirs, 35-25, the deficit cut from 21 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 92-71 against them. McDaniels's -19 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and VanVleet at 19 a game. Without Brooks (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 29 free throws a game; Edwards at 34 and Towns at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 17 times a game to Houston's 12 and the line, where Minnesota takes 29 free throws a game to Houston's 23. Call it Houston 115, Minnesota 112, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/07 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Irving at 22 a game. Without Kleber (28 straight), Exum (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 34 and Towns at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 27 free throws a game to Dallas's 21. Call it Dallas 115, Minnesota 112, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/09 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 33 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without F. Wagner (2 straight), Carter Jr. (2 straight), Gar. Harris (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Towns at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 44 percent from three to Minnesota's 36 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 109 a night to Orlando's 120. Call it Orlando 114, Minnesota 112, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/10 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Towns at 25 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Boston 117, Minnesota 110.
12/26 vs MEM 115-116 — NOP notes
NOP lost 115-116 in 1 overtime. NOP shot 43% (42 of 97) to MEM's 43%, 10 of 31 from three. Ingram led with 24 (9 of 20, 2 of 4 from three); Williamson added 23, Valančiūnas 17. Q2 was theirs, 29-19, turning a 5-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 97-86 against them. They led by as many as 15. McCollum's -9 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 vs UTA 112-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-105. NOP shot 55% (45 of 82) to UTA's 42%, 10 of 27 from three, and got to the line 15 times to UTA's 25. Ingram led with 26 (9 of 18, 7 of 7 at the line); McCollum added 22, Williamson 21. The hinge was Q2, 20-14: a lead of 2 became 8. Nance Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/31 vs LAL 129-109 — NOP notes
NOP won 129-109. NOP shot 52% (45 of 87) to LAL's 48%, 17 of 34 from three. The glass went 47-35 for them. Ingram led with 26 (10 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Williamson added 26, McCollum 22. The hinge was Q1, 42-33: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Ingram was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/02 vs BKN 112-85 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-85. NOP shot 47% (41 of 88) to BKN's 36%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 18 times to BKN's 8 — 14 points from the stripe to their 4. The glass went 53-43 for them. McCollum led with 16 (6 of 11, 4 of 8 from three); Jones added 14, Alvarado 13. The hinge was Q1, 32-18: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Ingram was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/03 @ MIN 117-106 — NOP notes
NOP won 117-106. NOP shot 56% (45 of 81) to MIN's 45%, 12 of 26 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIN's 27. The glass went 41-28 for them. Williamson led with 27 (11 of 15, 5 of 6 at the line); McCollum added 24, Ingram 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-22: a lead of 3 became 13, and the lead reached 24. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/05 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and Williamson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 116. Call it New Orleans 117, the Clippers 111.
1/07 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 25 and Sabonis at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Ellis (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 103 a night to Sacramento's 116 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-10 a night and New Orleans plus-4. Call it Sacramento 116, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/10 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Thompson at 17 a game. Without Green (13 straight), Payton II (3 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 47 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Williamson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 102 a night to Golden State's 124 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-11 a night and Golden State minus-0. Call it New Orleans 117, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
1/12 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 46 percent from three to Denver's 36 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-1. Call it Denver 115, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
NM N. Marshall
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
MINAE A. Edwards
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. McLaughlin
JM J. Minott
KA K. Anderson
KT K. Towns
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
SM S. Milton
TB T. Brown Jr.
NOP/MIN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Zion Williamson scores 27 points, Pelicans beat West-leading Timberwolves 117-106
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Zion Williamson scored 27 points and the New Orleans Pelicans kept rolling with a 117-106 victory over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
CJ McCollum added 24 points and Brandon Ingram had 19. The Pelicans pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight victory and ninth in 12 games.
On the second night of a back-to-back after beating Brooklyn 112-85, a game that allowed Williamson and Ingram to both play under 30 minutes, New Orleans went on the road and shot 55.6% from the field. Williamson and Ingram combined to shoot 18 of 26.
“We've all been locked in and connected on the defensive end, and that leads to a lot of better things on the offensive end; transition points and just the movement of the ball,” Williamson said. “So, when me, CJ and B.I. do get in our iso, we've got more space.”
Anthony Edwards scored 35 points for Minnesota, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22. Minnesota dropped to 14-2 at home and lost consecutive games for the first time this season. The Timberwolves were the last team in the NBA to lose two in a row.
The Timberwolves shot just 38.7% through three quarters. They finished with 13 turnovers, leading to 16 points for the Pelicans. Edwards had six turnovers and Towns shot 8 of 19 from the field, including 0 of 4 from 3-point territory.
“It’s on us because the coaches do a great job bringing the game plan and making sure we’re prepared,” Edwards said. “And the rest of it is on us. They keep asking us to play hard, and they shouldn’t have to say it. We got to figure it out.”
New Orleans used a 25-9 run late in the first half to take control and extended the lead to 24 midway through the third quarter.
“I give that credit to B.I., especially at the end of the second quarter,” Williamson said. “He made that separation. He was just getting to it. And then in the third quarter, that energy continued with the whole team.”
A night after complaining about Williamson not getting a foul called on a shot attempt, Pelicans coach Willie Green received a technical foul and sprinted nearly the length of the court after a drive by Williamson. There was no penalty called and Minnesota received the ball as officials ruled it went off Williamson’s leg.
“I saw him get fouled, that's the difference,” Green said about the play Wednesday. “I couldn't see it last night, but tonight I saw it and it was clear.”
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.