Game ID: 22401001
New Orleans Pelicans @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 30 31 30 24 115NOP 24 38 34 23 119
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 3/12 · 2 days' restBACK Randle back 3/02 after 13, 32 min since (99% of 33)
BACK Gobert back 3/09 after 10, 20 min since (61% of 32)
NEW Reid 27 to 34 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restBACK Gobert back 3/09 after 10, 25 min since (77% of 32)
MIN availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restBACK Gobert back 3/09 after 10, 28 min since (88% of 32)
MIN availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backBACK Gobert back 3/09 after 10, 28 min since (86% of 32)
MIN availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restBACK Gobert back 3/09 after 10, 26 min since (82% of 32)
MIN availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Dillingham missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 6 min (64% of 10)
MIN availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restBACK Dillingham back 3/21 after 2, 6 min since (64% of 10)
MIN availability going into 3/28 · 3 days' restBACK Dillingham back 3/21 after 2, 4 min since (44% of 10)
MIN availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restBACK Dillingham back 3/21 after 2, 4 min since (44% of 10)
NOP availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 43 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 44 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Olynyk missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 31 min (120% of 25)
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 45 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 16 min since (105% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Missi missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 22 min (81% of 27)
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 15 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 46 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 31 min since (120% of 25)
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 12 min since (83% of 15)
NEW Matković 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 16 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 47 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 22 min since (81% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 27 min since (107% of 25)
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 14 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 17 since 2/12, returns tonight: 22 min (92% of 24)
OUT Payton missed 48 since 12/05, returns tonight: 12 min (56% of 22)
OUT Cain missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 28 min since (110% of 25)
NOP availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Cain missed 4 since 3/15, returns tonight: 13 min (97% of 14)
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 27 min since (105% of 25)
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 22 min since (92% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 12 min since (56% of 22)
NOP availability going into 3/24 · back-to-backBACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 26 min since (103% of 25)
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 21 min since (90% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 12 min since (56% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 13 min since (97% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/28 · 3 days' restBACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 25 min since (95% of 27)
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 18 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 8 min since (57% of 14)
NEW Robinson-Earl 19 to 24 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Brooks Jr. (16 straight), Payton (47 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it Minnesota 120, New Orleans 108, Minnesota by 12.
3/12 @ DEN 115-95 — MIN notes
MIN won 115-95. MIN shot 48% (43 of 90) to DEN's 40%, 17 of 40 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DEN's 22. MIN turned it over 15 times to DEN's 10, and DEN turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 29 (10 of 22, 5 of 12 from three); Randle added 25, McDaniels 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-26: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 26. DiVincenzo was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/14 vs ORL 118-111 — MIN notes
MIN won 118-111. MIN shot 52% (42 of 80) to ORL's 45%, 14 of 33 from three, and went to the line 28 times to ORL's 22 — 20 points from the stripe to their 19. The glass went 45-31 for them. Edwards led with 28 (9 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Randle added 22, DiVincenzo 14. The hinge was Q4, 40-24: MIN came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 7. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/16 vs UTA 128-102 — MIN notes
MIN won 128-102. MIN shot 49% (48 of 97) to UTA's 43%, 14 of 43 from three, and went to the line 26 times to UTA's 15 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. MIN turned it over 9 times to UTA's 22. Edwards led with 41 (16 of 27, 5 of 14 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); McDaniels added 20, DiVincenzo 11. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
3/17 vs IND 130-132 — MIN notes
MIN lost 130-132 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 45% (44 of 97) to IND's 49%, 13 of 42 from three, and went to the line 36 times to IND's 23 — 29 points from the stripe to their 19. MIN turned it over 14 times to IND's 20. Edwards led with 38 (9 of 24, 1 of 11 from three, 19 of 20 at the line); Reid added 21, DiVincenzo 19. Q3 was theirs, 41-29, the deficit cut from 14 to 2, but the other 4 periods went 103-89 against them. DiVincenzo's -20 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 vs NOP 115-119 — MIN notes
MIN lost 115-119. MIN shot 45% (35 of 77) to NOP's 53%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 36 times to NOP's 22 — 29 points from the stripe to their 12. Edwards led with 29 (5 of 19, 4 of 10 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); Randle added 17, Conley 16. Q1 was theirs, 30-24, but the other 3 periods went 95-85 against them. They led by as many as 14. Randle's -20 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 vs NOP — 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 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Edwards at 33 and Randle at 18 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (17 straight), Payton (48 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 28 free throws a game to New Orleans's 20 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 112 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it Minnesota 119, New Orleans 109, Minnesota by 10.
3/24 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (64 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Randle at 17 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 111 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Minnesota 117, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
3/28 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 15 a game. 3 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Phoenix 112.
3/30 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 24 and Randle at 18 a game. One day's rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sasser at 17 and Duren at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Cunningham (3 straight), Smith (12 straight), Harper Jr. (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Detroit at 43 percent from three to Minnesota's 38. Call it Minnesota 117, Detroit 115, Detroit keeping it close.
3/11 vs LAC 127-120 — NOP notes
NOP won 127-120. NOP shot 55% (47 of 85) to LAC's 50%, 17 of 31 from three. NOP turned it over 19 times to LAC's 11, and LAC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 46-34 for them. McCollum led with 23 (8 of 16, 5 of 9 from three); Williamson added 22, Murphy III 21. The hinge was Q1, 28-21: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Hawkins was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/13 vs ORL 93-113 — NOP notes
NOP lost 93-113. NOP shot 44% (35 of 79) to ORL's 52%, 7 of 25 from three. NOP turned it over 13 times to ORL's 8. Williamson led with 20 (8 of 15, 4 of 6 at the line); Murphy III added 17, Alvarado 12. Q3 was theirs, 27-20, the deficit cut from 30 to 23, but the other 3 periods went 93-66 against them. Matković's -30 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ SAS 115-119 — NOP notes
NOP lost 115-119. NOP took 8 more shots (92 to 84), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 50% to SAS's 46%, 12 of 35 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 20 fouls committed. NOP turned it over 15 times to SAS's 10, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 52-37 for them. McCollum led with 26 (10 of 22, 5 of 12 from three); Murphy III added 20, Brown 19. Q4 was theirs, 32-27, the deficit cut from 9 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 92-83 against them.
3/17 vs DET 81-127 — NOP notes
NOP lost 81-127. NOP shot 33% (28 of 86) to DET's 55%, 5 of 32 from three. The glass went 39-50 against them. Williamson led with 30 (9 of 18, 12 of 15 at the line); Missi added 12. Q3 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 31 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 102-50 against them. Hawkins's -42 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 @ MIN 119-115 — NOP notes
NOP won 119-115. NOP shot 53% (47 of 89) to MIN's 45%, 13 of 29 from three, and got to the line 22 times to MIN's 36. Williamson led with 29 (12 of 16, 5 of 9 at the line); McCollum added 18, Brown 15. The hinge was Q2, 38-31: NOP came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 1.
3/21 @ MIN — 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 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Edwards at 33 and Randle at 18 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (17 straight), Payton (48 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 28 free throws a game to New Orleans's 20 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 112 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it Minnesota 119, New Orleans 109, Minnesota by 10.
3/23 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Beasley at 13 a game. Without Smith (9 straight), Harper Jr. (21 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and McCollum at 14 a game. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 112 a night to New Orleans's 122 and the arc, Detroit at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 32. Call it Detroit 120, New Orleans 107, Detroit by 13.
3/24 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 126, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 20 and Brown at 12 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 132, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Grimes at 31 and Edwards at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Maxey (11 straight), Oubre Jr. (6 straight), Lowry (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 17 times a game to Philadelphia's 14. Call it New Orleans 119, Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/28 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Hawkins at 13 a game. 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Podziemski at 16 a game. Without Curry (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 111 a night to New Orleans's 122 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Golden State minus-3. Call it Golden State 114, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JC J. Clark
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
NOPBB B. Brown
CM C. McCollum
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
MIN/NOP 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 29 as Pelicans defeat Timberwolves 119-115 in rare road win
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Zion Williamson scored 29 points and CJ McCollum added 18 for New Orleans as the Pelicans surprised the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 119-115 win on Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves have lost two straight after winning eight in a row. Minnesota is in a battle with Golden State for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. Wednesday's loss drops Minnesota a full game behind the Warriors.
After trailing 43-32 in the second quarter, the Pelicans went on a 14-0 run to take a 46-43 lead. The two teams went back and forth for most of the rest of the game but Minnesota never could establish a comfortable lead against the Pelicans.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 points. Julius Randle added 17 and Mike Conley scored 16.
Wednesday's game was New Orleans' first since losing forward Trey Murphy III for the season with a right shoulder injury. Murphy, who averaged 21.2 points per game this year, was injured in Monday's loss to Detroit .
Takeaways Pelicans: While Williamson was the dominant force on offense, he had plenty of help. Six different Pelicans scored in double figures against a Timberwolves team that statistically has been one of the better defenses in the league this season.
Timberwolves: This should have been an easy bounce-back game for Minnesota after Monday's loss to Indiana. Instead, the Wolves couldn't handle a Pelicans team with just six road wins all season prior to Wednesday.
Key moment Trailing by two points late, Minnesota couldn't corral a defensive rebound in the final minute. New Orleans instead grabbed its 11th board of the game, allowing Williamson to put in a layup with 13.1 seconds remaining to send Timberwolves fans to the exits.
Key stat Edwards was cold from the floor, shooting just 5 of 19 — including 1-for-9 on 2-point field goals.
Up next The same two teams play again Friday in Minneapolis.