Game ID: 22501195
New Orleans Pelicans @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 8:30 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 34 39 24 35 132NOP 24 35 31 36 126
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 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT McDaniels missed 4 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Clark missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 11 min (85% of 13)
BACK Edwards back 3/30 after 6, 24 min since (70% of 35)
BACK Dosunmu back 3/30 after 2, 34 min since (117% of 29)
BACK Conley back 3/25 after 2, 22 min since (123% of 18)
NEW Hyland 16 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Anderson 16 to 21 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT McDaniels missed 5 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 3/30 after 6, 24 min since (70% of 35)
BACK Dosunmu back 3/30 after 2, 34 min since (118% of 29)
BACK Clark back 4/05 after 2, 11 min since (85% of 13)
NEW Hyland 16 to 25 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 4/08 · back-to-backOUT Edwards missed 2 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT McDaniels missed 6 since 3/28, returns tonight: 19 min (60% of 32)
BACK Dosunmu back 3/30 after 2, 34 min since (117% of 29)
BACK Clark back 4/05 after 2, 14 min since (112% of 13)
NEW Hyland 16 to 24 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Edwards missed 3 since 4/05, returns tonight: 27 min (78% of 35)
BACK McDaniels back 4/08 after 6, 19 min since (60% of 32)
BACK Clark back 4/05 after 2, 20 min since (160% of 13)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Hyland 16 to 24 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Gobert missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 4/10 after 3, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK McDaniels back 4/08 after 6, 27 min since (85% of 32)
BACK Clark back 4/05 after 2, 18 min since (144% of 13)
NEW Hyland 16 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Anderson 16 to 21 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 4/18 · 5 days' restOUT Randle missed 3 since 4/08, returns tonight: 31 min (95% of 33)
OUT Gobert missed 3 since 4/08, returns tonight: 38 min (121% of 31)
OUT Reid missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 17 min (66% of 26)
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 5 min (33% of 16)
BACK Edwards back 4/10 after 3, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK McDaniels back 4/08 after 6, 27 min since (85% of 32)
BACK Clark back 4/05 after 2, 21 min since (163% of 13)
NEW Anderson 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Shannon Jr. 14 to 20 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 4/20 · 1 day's restBACK Edwards back 4/10 after 3, 33 min since (94% of 35)
BACK Randle back 4/18 after 3, 31 min since (95% of 33)
BACK McDaniels back 4/08 after 6, 29 min since (91% of 32)
BACK Gobert back 4/18 after 3, 38 min since (121% of 31)
BACK Reid back 4/18 after 2, 17 min since (66% of 26)
BACK Hyland back 4/18 after 2, 5 min since (33% of 16)
NEW Shannon Jr. 14 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Clark 13 to 23 min over the last 4
MIN availability going into 4/23 · 2 days' restOUT Shannon Jr. missed 2 since 4/18, out tonight
OUT Clark missed 2 since 4/18, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 4/10 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Randle back 4/18 after 3, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK McDaniels back 4/08 after 6, 31 min since (98% of 32)
BACK Gobert back 4/18 after 3, 33 min since (104% of 31)
BACK Reid back 4/18 after 2, 22 min since (85% of 26)
BACK Hyland back 4/18 after 2, 8 min since (47% of 16)
MIN availability going into 4/25 · 1 day's restOUT Shannon Jr. missed 3 since 4/18, returns tonight: 7 min (51% of 14)
OUT Clark missed 3 since 4/18, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 4/10 after 3, 32 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Randle back 4/18 after 3, 33 min since (101% of 33)
BACK Gobert back 4/18 after 3, 34 min since (108% of 31)
BACK Reid back 4/18 after 2, 21 min since (79% of 26)
BACK Hyland back 4/18 after 2, 10 min since (64% of 16)
NOP availability going into 4/03 · back-to-backOUT McGowens missed 11 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 37 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 4/02 after 3, 36 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Poole back 3/27 after 3, 15 min since (62% of 24)
BACK Peavy back 3/26 after 4, 9 min since (57% of 15)
BACK Looney back 3/29 after 19, 4 min since (25% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 3/26 after 4, 16 min since (120% of 14)
NOP availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Oduro missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 12 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 38 since 1/11, returns tonight: 11 min (92% of 12)
BACK Murphy III back 4/02 after 3, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Peavy back 3/26 after 4, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 3/26 after 4, 17 min since (128% of 14)
NOP availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Oduro missed 3 since 4/02, returns tonight: 26 min (97% of 27)
OUT Poole missed 3 since 4/02, returns tonight: 32 min (133% of 24)
OUT McGowens missed 13 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 3 since 4/02, returns tonight: 28 min (195% of 15)
BACK Murphy III back 4/02 after 3, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Alexander back 4/05 after 38, 11 min since (92% of 12)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/10 · 2 days' restOUT McGowens missed 14 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 4/02 after 3, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Oduro back 4/07 after 3, 26 min since (97% of 27)
BACK Poole back 4/07 after 3, 32 min since (133% of 24)
BACK Looney back 3/29 after 19, 16 min since (110% of 15)
BACK Alexander back 4/05 after 38, 11 min since (91% of 12)
NEW Fears 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Missi 20 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Peavy 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 14 to 19 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 15 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 4/02 after 3, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Oduro back 4/07 after 3, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Poole back 4/07 after 3, 30 min since (127% of 24)
BACK Looney back 4/07 after 3, 27 min since (183% of 15)
BACK Alexander back 4/05 after 38, 12 min since (100% of 12)
NEW Fears 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Queen 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Missi 20 to 27 min over the last 3
NEW Peavy 15 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 14 to 23 min over the last 4
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 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Randle at 22 and Dosunmu at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Randle (2 straight), Gobert (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Fears at 29 and Bey at 22 a game. Without McGowens (15 straight), Jordan (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 27 free throws a game to Minnesota's 20 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-3 a night and Minnesota minus-8. Call it Minnesota 121, New Orleans 117, New Orleans keeping it close.
4/05 vs CHA 108-122 — MIN notes
MIN lost 108-122. MIN shot 46% (38 of 83) to CHA's 49%, 14 of 38 from three, and went to the line 23 times to CHA's 15 — 18 points from the stripe to their 13. Randle led with 26 (9 of 16, 1 of 5 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Hyland added 18, Dosunmu 12. Q2 was theirs, 39-26, turning a 8-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 96-69 against them. Dosunmu's -23 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/07 @ IND 124-104 — MIN notes
MIN won 124-104. MIN shot 52% (46 of 89) to IND's 48%, 17 of 41 from three, and got to the line 16 times to IND's 31. Dosunmu led with 24 (10 of 17, 1 of 5 from three); Randle added 19, Hyland 19. The hinge was Q3, 39-24: a lead of 10 became 25, and the lead reached 31. Dosunmu was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
4/08 @ ORL 120-132 — MIN notes
MIN lost 120-132. MIN shot 50% (45 of 90) to ORL's 54%, 18 of 44 from three, and got to the line 14 times to ORL's 23. The glass went 33-48 against them. Shannon Jr. led with 33 (11 of 14, 5 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); McDaniels added 18, Reid 15. Q4 was theirs, 37-31, the deficit cut from 18 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 101-83 against them. Anderson's -25 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/10 @ HOU 136-132 — MIN notes
MIN won 136-132. MIN shot 57% (51 of 89) to HOU's 61%, 15 of 30 from three. MIN turned it over 7 times to HOU's 12. The glass went 25-39 against them. Shannon Jr. led with 23 (8 of 13, 5 of 7 from three); Edwards added 22, DiVincenzo 18. The hinge was Q4, 33-26: MIN came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 4. MIN trailed 69-73 at the half and won the second half 67-59. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/12 vs NOP 132-126 — MIN notes
MIN won 132-126. MIN shot 51% (45 of 89) to NOP's 42%, 10 of 37 from three. Shannon Jr. led with 26 (6 of 18, 0 of 7 from three, 14 of 18 at the line); Beringer added 24, Pullin 19. The hinge was Q1, 34-24: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Freeman was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/18 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Murray (2 straight), Braun (2 straight), Johnson (2 straight). 5 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dosunmu at 17 and Shannon Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Randle (3 straight), Gobert (3 straight), Reid (2 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-7. Call it Denver 124, Minnesota 119.
4/20 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Shannon Jr. at 21 and Dosunmu at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and Minnesota minus-7. Call it Denver 123, Minnesota 117.
4/23 vs DEN — 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 122 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Shannon Jr. at 27 and Edwards at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 29 and Jokić at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Pickett (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-6 and the defense, Denver allowing 114 a night to Minnesota's 124. Call it Minnesota 120, Denver 119, Denver keeping it close.
4/25 vs DEN — 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 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Randle at 18 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Minnesota 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
4/03 @ SAC 113-117 — NOP notes
NOP lost 113-117. NOP shot 48% (40 of 84) to SAC's 51%, 14 of 34 from three. The glass went 36-46 against them. Fears led with 28 (10 of 19, 5 of 11 from three); Bey added 20, Hawkins 14. Q1 was theirs, 30-21, but the other 3 periods went 96-83 against them. They led by as many as 17. Bey's -7 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/05 vs ORL 108-112 — NOP notes
NOP lost 108-112. NOP shot 42% (35 of 84) to ORL's 43%, 10 of 31 from three. The glass went 47-57 against them. Bey led with 32 (10 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Fears added 19, Missi 18. Q2 was theirs, 32-23, turning a 1-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-76 against them. They led by as many as 15. Peavy's -19 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/07 vs UTA 156-137 — NOP notes
NOP won 156-137. NOP shot 58% (61 of 106) to UTA's 51%, 14 of 34 from three. Fears led with 40 (17 of 29, 1 of 7 from three); Poole added 34, Hawkins 25. The hinge was Q3, 50-27: NOP came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 15, and the lead reached 29. NOP trailed 61-69 at the half and won the second half 95-68. Fears was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
4/10 @ BOS 118-144 — NOP notes
NOP lost 118-144. NOP shot 46% (44 of 96) to BOS's 54%, 9 of 32 from three, and went to the line 30 times to BOS's 15 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. Fears led with 36 (13 of 29, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Queen added 25, Hawkins 20. Q4 was theirs, 36-28, the deficit cut from 34 to 26, but the other 3 periods went 116-82 against them. Poole's -40 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 @ MIN 126-132 — NOP notes
NOP lost 126-132. NOP took 18 more shots (107 to 89), fed by 20 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to MIN's 51%, 5 of 21 from three. Fears led with 36 (12 of 28, 0 of 5 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Queen added 30, Peavy 21. Q3 was theirs, 31-24, the deficit cut from 14 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 108-95 against them.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINDD D. DiVincenzo
EF E. Freeman
JB J. Beringer
JC J. Clark
JI J. Ingles
JP J. Phillips
RZ R. Zikarsky
TS T. Shannon Jr.
ZP Z. Pullin
NOPDQ D. Queen
HD H. Dickinson
JF J. Fears
JH J. Hawkins
JO J. Oduro
MP M. Peavy
TA T. Alexander
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
Timberwolves welcome back Garnett and beat Pelicans in regular-season finale as playoffs await
MINNEAPOLIS -- — The Minnesota Timberwolves rested almost all their regulars for the playoffs during a 132-126 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, as franchise icon Kevin Garnett made a special appearance for fan appreciation night in the regular-season finale.
With the Timberwolves locked into the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and the Pelicans long ago eliminated, the main attraction was Garnett's first visit to Target Center in eight years .
The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena with Timberwolves co-owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand. After giving current star Anthony Edwards a bear hug, Garnett took his courtside seat.
Garnett, who had a falling out with previous owner Glen Taylor after his career was over , reached an agreement last year with the team to serve as an ambassador. His No. 21 jersey will be retired at a later date.
The Timberwolves (49-33) sat nine of their top 10 players, giving fan favorite Joe Ingles a token start in a 15-point, 10-assist performance. Rookie forward Joan Beringer had 24 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks.
Jeremiah Fears had 36 points and 10 rebounds, and Derik Queen added 30 points with a career-high 22 rebounds for the Pelicans (27-55), who got productive rookie years from their two first-round draft picks amid another injury-affected season. Fears played 82 games, and Queen played 81.
Up next The Pelicans don't have a first-round pick in the draft this year. Their first offseason priority is naming a head coach. Willie Green was fired after a 2-10 start , and James Borrego took the interim role.
The Timberwolves will play the No. 3 seed Nuggets in a first-round playoff series starting in Denver on Saturday.