As The Pelicans Defeat The Wolves, Zion Williamson Leads The Charge

With 14 points in the fourth quarter, the host New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-118 after the latter came from behind. At 1:49 left, the Timberwolves led by five points when Williamson made two baskets and a 3-pointer. Minnesota's Jaylen Nowell broke a tie with a jumper with no more than a minute left, but Williamson responded by scoring a layup.

On Williamson's layup, steal, and dunk, New Orleans led 118-116 with 39.1 seconds left. Jaden McDaniels scored two free throws to tie the score with four seconds left. 119-118 was the Pelicans' lead when Williamson was fouled and hit one of two free throws. As time expired, Edwards missed a baseline jumper.

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After missing three games, Williamson returned

When Williamson returned from a three-game absence due to health and safety protocols, he made 14 out of 21 field goals and 14 out of 19 free throws. Besides Trey Murphy III, CJ McCollum scored 20, Jonas Valanciunas scored 12 points, and Naji Marshall scored 12. New Orleans won for the fourth straight time.

After losing its fourth straight game to Minnesota, Edwards and D'Angelo Russell each scored 27 points, McDaniels had 19, Nowell had 14, Naz Reid had 13, and Rudy Gobert had 10. On Marshall's three-point play in the third quarter, the Pelicans pulled to within one point of 55-49 at halftime. Russell scored 13 points in the third quarter to extend the Wolves lead to 81-71.

A drive by McDaniels resulted in a score

New Orleans closed within four after Murphy's 3-pointer, but Minnesota doubled its lead before the end. After three quarters, New Orleans led 91-88 after Murphy made another 3-pointer. A 104-100 lead for the Wolves midway through the quarter was changed seven times before McDaniels scored on a drive and threw in a 3-pointer.