Game ID: 22401016
New Orleans Pelicans @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 28 34 35 37 134NOP 22 26 24 21 93
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 3/14 · 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)
MIN availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restBACK Dillingham back 3/21 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 10)
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
NOP availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT McCollum missed 2 since 3/24, not on tonight's roster
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 21 min since (90% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 20 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 8 min since (57% of 14)
NEW Brown 25 to 30 min over the last 4
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 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.
3/14 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 134-93 — MIN notes
MIN won 134-93. MIN shot 54% (48 of 89) to NOP's 50%, 19 of 44 from three. MIN turned it over 13 times to NOP's 25. Randle led with 20 (7 of 11, 2 of 5 from three); Edwards added 17, McDaniels 17. The hinge was Q4, 37-21: a lead of 25 became 41. Gobert was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
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.
4/01 @ 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 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. Without Strawther (14 straight). 3 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 22 and Randle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 109 a night to Denver's 116. Call it Denver 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
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 93-134 — NOP notes
NOP lost 93-134. NOP shot 50% (34 of 68) to MIN's 54%, 11 of 31 from three. NOP turned it over 25 times to MIN's 13, and MIN turned those into 14 steals. McCollum led with 15 (6 of 15, 1 of 7 from three); Brown added 14, Reeves 11. Q1 was theirs, 22-28, but the other 3 periods went 106-71 against them. Robinson-Earl's -32 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
3/30 vs CHA — 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 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Brown at 15 a game. Without McCollum (2 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Ball at 23 and Bridges at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (57 straight), Baugh (5 straight), Moore Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 114, Charlotte 111, Charlotte keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
BH B. Hyland
DD D. DiVincenzo
JC J. Clark
JI J. Ingles
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. Minott
JR J. Randle
LG L. Garza
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RD R. Dillingham
RG R. Gobert
TS T. Shannon Jr.
NOPAR A. Reeves
BB B. Brown
CM C. McCollum
EP E. Payton
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KB K. Brooks Jr.
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
YM Y. Missi
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
Randle scores 20 points and Timberwolves stomp Pelicans 134-93 to keep pace in Western Conference
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Julius Randle had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves avoided losing to one of the Western Conference's worst teams for the second time in three days with a 134-93 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards each scored 17 points, and Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which moved back within a game of Golden State for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with 10 games left in the regular season.
The Timberwolves' 41-point margin of victory was their largest this season.
Edwards also finished with five assists and three rebounds after a brief injury scare in the third quarter. The three-time All-Star went to the locker room holding his right thigh, but returned later in the period.
With his wife and three children in attendance, Minnesota's Joe Ingles made his first start since Jan. 30, 2022, and went scoreless with an assist in just over six minutes. Ingles' son Jacob, who has autism, recently reached the milestone of viewing an entire game in person. Finch gave Ingles the start so Jacob could watch his father play.
C.J. McCollum led the Pelicans with 15 points, and Bruce Brown scored 14.
Takeaways Pelicans: Entering Friday with the Western Conference's second-worst record, New Orleans played without star forward Zion Williamson because of a bruised lower back.
Timberwolves: During its ascent to being a Western Conference contender in recent years, Minnesota has sometimes underperformed against teams well below it in the standings. That was the case in a 119-115 loss at home Wednesday, but the Wolves outscored New Orleans 72-45 in the second half Friday night.
Key moment McDaniels took a baseline pass from Mike Conley and dunked straight over Pelicans rim protector Yves Missi to give Minnesota an 80-59 advantage midway through the third quarter.
Key stat The Pelicans are the NBA's No. 5 team in second-chance points with 15.8 per game, but Minnesota outscored them 20-4 in that category Friday.
Up next The Pelicans head to Detroit on Sunday, and the Timberwolves play Monday at Indiana.