tonight would be the fourth meeting between the New Orleans pelicans and the Minnesota Timberwolves. This also gave the Minnesota Timberwolves fans a chance to finally watch Zion Williamson in person this season. Both teams match up perfectly against each other in tonight was another clear indication of that.
The game started out, neck and neck as the pelicans and Timberwolves were going shot for shot. It wasn’t until Rudy. Gobert got into foul trouble when things started to change for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Once Rudy Opia picked up two files, the pelicans made a point to attack the paint and both Zion, Williamson, and Brandon Ingram took full advantage of that tonight. Once Rudy Gobert was taken out the game early. It forced Minnesota to go smaller when they put Naz Reid in the game. Naz Reid does complement playing alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, but it just didn’t work out on the defensive end tonight.
The Minnesota Timberwolves did a good job defending Brandon Ingram as he was trying to make tough shots all night long and he finished with 19 points on the night. The biggest problem for Minnesota was Zion Williamson was going to the paint and attacking the defenders that were in foul trouble. Once Zion made his decision to go to the rack, it was tough for the Minnesota defense, because when Zion attacked the paint, he drew the defense in and kicked it out to wide-open shooters like CJ McCollum, who are able to take advantage. Zion Williamson finished with 27 points and he was able to bully inside the paint all night long without Rudy Gobert there to help anchor the interior defense. If Rudy Gobert wasn’t in foul trouble, this game would’ve went a lot differently in my opinion but it’s tough to take away a defensive player of the year and try to replace that against the talented Pelicans team.
It seems like every single time the Timberwolves were making a run that CJ McCollum or Brandon Ingram made a tough shot that was contested, and there was nothing that can be done about it. The pelicans have some tough shot makers on the team and so do the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight was just the pelicans night. Can’t do much about it, but shake a man’s hand and say good shot.
The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t go away quietly, as Anthony Edwards finished with 35 points on the night with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Anthony Edwards was able to turn it up in the second half but the lack of stops on the other end made it tough to come out with a victory. The Pelicans didn’t beat Anthony Edwards tonight he was 11/22 from the field and just didn’t get the calls that he’s accustomed to getting. Karl-Anthony Towns had an off night as well and was able to see his shot go down in the 2nd half. This Timberwolves team is talented and loaded enough to hand with any team but tonight just wasn’t the night.
The Timberwolves will be looking a bounce back against the Houston Rockets on Friday as they look for their 25th win of the season.
Photo Credit: (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
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