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Full time, Minnesota Timberwolves defeat New Orleans Pelicans 115-109: Ayo Dosunmu scores 26 points to seal the win
Key moments
4Q | 6.1: Jeremiah Fears three-point play trims Timberwolves lead to 113-109
Saddiq Bey connected on a 26-foot three-pointer off a pass from Jeremiah Fears before Trey Lyles went 1-for-2 at the foul line. With 22.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jeremiah Fears finished a 2-foot shot in the paint off a Dejounte Murray assist and added the free throw after a Jonathan Kuminga shooting foul, cutting the Minnesota Timberwolves' lead over the New Orleans Pelicans to 113-109 at the 6.1-second mark.
4Q | 1:32: Ayo Dosunmu hits running jumper as Timberwolves lead 109-99
Jaden McDaniels blocked a 2-foot driving layup by Jeremiah Fears at the 1:53 mark of the fourth quarter, and Jonathan Kuminga corralled the defensive rebound. Ayo Dosunmu then knocked down a 22-foot running jump shot off a LaMelo Ball assist at 1:46 to put the Minnesota Timberwolves up 109-99 over the New Orleans Pelicans. Trey Lyles stripped Saddiq Bey for a steal at 1:33 before Jeremiah Fears committed a personal foul at 1:32.
4Q | 3:39: Trey Lyles dunk and Ayo Dosunmu triple lift Timberwolves to 102-94
After Saddiq Bey made his third free throw at the 4:44 mark of the fourth quarter, Ayo Dosunmu buried a 27-foot three-pointer off a Trey Lyles assist at 4:29. Jonathan Kuminga grabbed the defensive rebound following a missed driving layup by Zion Williamson at 4:15, and Trey Lyles threw down a 1-foot driving dunk from an Ayo Dosunmu assist at 3:55 to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a 102-94 lead over the New Orleans Pelicans.
4Q | 4:49: Jonathan Kuminga layup pushes Timberwolves lead to 97-91
At the 6:15 mark of the fourth quarter, LaMelo Ball hit a technical free throw while Jonathan Kuminga went 2-for-2 at the line. Jeremiah Fears answered with a driving layup at 6:01, before Jonathan Kuminga scored on a layup at 5:38 to put the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead 97-91 over the New Orleans Pelicans. Ayo Dosunmu and Saddiq Bey each collected a defensive rebound before the 4:49 mark.
4Q | 7:55: Dejounte Murray jumper puts Pelicans ahead 89-87
Jeremiah Fears converted a driving layup off a Saddiq Bey assist at 8:30 of the fourth quarter, and Saddiq Bey then blocked an Ayo Dosunmu driving layup at 8:13. Following a missed 8-foot fadeaway by Jaden McDaniels at 8:04, Zion Williamson secured the defensive rebound and assisted Dejounte Murray on a 23-foot running jump shot at 7:57 to give the New Orleans Pelicans an 89-87 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Live box score check (7:55 - 4th): Minnesota Timberwolves 87-89 New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves 87-89 New Orleans Pelicans (7:55 - 4th): Live statistical snapshot as play continues.
New Orleans Pelicans: Karlo Matkovic (18), Zion Williamson (4) | Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels (18), LaMelo Ball (6)
Timberwolves: Field Goal %: 40 · Three Point %: 27 · Rebounds: 40 | Pelicans: Field Goal %: 45 · Three Point %: 38 · Rebounds: 38
4Q | 9:29: Ayo Dosunmu running layup extends Timberwolves lead to 85-81
After Rudy Gobert missed two free throws at the 9:46 mark of the fourth quarter and Dejounte Murray grabbed the defensive rebound, Trey Lyles blocked a running layup by Trendon Watford at 9:37. Rudy Gobert secured the defensive board, and Ayo Dosunmu finished a running layup at 9:30 to put the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead 85-81 over the New Orleans Pelicans with 9:29 remaining.
4Q | 10:51: Derik Queen basket puts Pelicans back on top 81-80
Ayo Dosunmu blocked a 5-foot jumper by Herbert Jones at 11:51 of the fourth quarter, and Trey Lyles followed by stealing a Derik Queen pass at 11:40. LaMelo Ball then connected on a 28-foot three-pointer at the 11:26 mark for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Derik Queen answered with a 7-foot two-point shot at 11:00 to put the New Orleans Pelicans ahead 81-80 before Herbert Jones committed a shooting foul at 10:51.
End of 3Q: Pelicans hold a 79-77 advantage over the Timberwolves
Trendon Watford converted two free throws with 31.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter for the New Orleans Pelicans. Following a shooting foul by Herbert Jones at the 10.1-second mark, LaMelo Ball sank both free throws for the Minnesota Timberwolves to make it 79-77. Derik Queen missed a 14-foot jumper at the buzzer as the Pelicans recorded an offensive team rebound at 0.0 to close the third quarter ahead 79-77.
3Q | 35.4: Jaden McDaniels three-point play cuts Pelicans lead to 77-75
Trendon Watford knocked down a 25-foot three-pointer off a Saddiq Bey assist at 1:48 of the third quarter for the New Orleans Pelicans. Jaden McDaniels answered at 1:26 with a 3-foot basket and a bonus free throw after a Dejounte Murray shooting foul, cutting the Minnesota Timberwolves deficit to 77-75 with 35.4 seconds left. Following a missed 10-foot fadeaway by Saddiq Bey at 1:03, Derik Queen grabbed the offensive rebound before traveling at 55.9 seconds.
3Q | 2:46: Jaden McDaniels putback layup trims Pelicans lead to 73-71
Jonathan Kuminga pulled down a defensive rebound after Saddiq Bey missed a 23-foot running jump shot at the 3:06 mark of the third quarter. Trendon Watford blocked a 7-foot jumper by Jonathan Kuminga at 2:57, but Jaden McDaniels grabbed the offensive rebound and scored a layup at 2:50 to cut the New Orleans Pelicans' lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves to 73-71. Bones Hyland then committed a personal foul with 2:46 remaining in the period.
3Q | 3:58: Trendon Watford and Zion Williamson extend Pelicans lead to 73-66
After Zion Williamson sank two free throws at the 4:46 mark of the third quarter, Trendon Watford grabbed a defensive rebound following a missed 23-foot three-pointer by Trey Lyles. Trendon Watford then scored a layup at 4:26 and pulled down another defensive rebound at 4:19 after Bones Hyland missed a 28-foot three-pointer, giving the New Orleans Pelicans a 73-66 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 3:58 left in the period.
3Q | 5:46: Zion Williamson layup gives Pelicans a 67-66 third-quarter lead
Zion Williamson converted a layup off a Saddiq Bey assist at the 6:30 mark of the third quarter, putting the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves 67-66 with 5:46 remaining. Following a Trey Murphy III personal foul at 6:19, Minnesota guard Bones Hyland missed a layup at 6:09 and Bey grabbed the defensive rebound. Karlo Matkovic leads New Orleans with 18 points, while Jaden McDaniels has 13 points for Minnesota.
3Q | 7:46: Jaden McDaniels scores inside to put Timberwolves up 66-61
Jaden McDaniels grabbed a defensive rebound after Dejounte Murray missed a 17-foot pull-up jumper at 8:02, then scored a two-point basket in the paint at 7:54 to push the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead 66-61 over the New Orleans Pelicans. Earlier in the sequence, Karlo Matkovic threw down a dunk off a Dejounte Murray assist to reach 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while Jaden McDaniels has 13 points with 7:46 left in the third quarter.
Live box score check (7:46 - 3rd): Minnesota Timberwolves 66-61 New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves 66-61 New Orleans Pelicans (7:46 - 3rd): Live statistical snapshot as play continues.
New Orleans Pelicans: Karlo Matkovic (18), Dejounte Murray (3) | Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels (13), LaMelo Ball (5)
Timberwolves: Field Goal %: 47 · Three Point %: 32 · Rebounds: 25 | Pelicans: Field Goal %: 44 · Three Point %: 33 · Rebounds: 25
3Q | 11:03: Dejounte Murray hits 19-foot pull-up as Pelicans cut lead to 58-54
Dejounte Murray knocked down a 19-foot pull-up jump shot at the 11:34 mark of the third quarter after Jeremiah Fears secured a defensive rebound following a missed 22-foot three-pointer by Jonathan Kuminga. At 11:19, Karlo Matkovic converted one of two attempts at the free-throw line. The Minnesota Timberwolves hold a 58-54 lead over the New Orleans Pelicans with 11:03 on the third-quarter clock.
Halftime Leaders: Ayo Dosunmu and Karlo Matkovic pace the scoring in the first half
Ayo Dosunmu leads the Minnesota Timberwolves with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 2-of-3 from three-point range as Minnesota holds a 57-51 lead at the break. Jaden McDaniels and LaMelo Ball each have 11 points and four assists for the Timberwolves. For the New Orleans Pelicans, Karlo Matkovic has a game-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 4-of-7 from deep, while Trey Murphy III has 10 points and Jeremiah Fears adds eight points.
Halftime Stats: Shooting splits and rebounding breakdown
Minnesota Timberwolves (57): 19-41 FG (46%), 7-20 3PT (35%), 22 REB, 12 AST.
New Orleans Pelicans (51): 19-45 FG (42%), 5-14 3PT (36%), 21 REB, 12 AST.
Halftime: Timberwolves lead Pelicans 57-51 as Karlo Matkovic scores 16 first-half points
The Minnesota Timberwolves carry a 57-51 halftime lead over the New Orleans Pelicans after Zion Williamson made a driving layup at 47.3 seconds and LaMelo Ball answered with a two-point basket at 36.0 seconds. Trey Lyles stole the ball from Dejounte Murray at 30.1 seconds before Murray missed a two-point shot at the second-quarter buzzer. Karlo Matkovic leads New Orleans with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Ayo Dosunmu paces Minnesota with 12 points.
2Q | 2:11: The Timberwolves lead 53-47 in the 2nd quarter
Rudy Gobert rose above the rim for a slam off a crisp feed from LaMelo Ball, before Jaden McDaniels rose above the rim for a slam off a crisp feed from LaMelo Ball. Moments later, Saddiq Bey knocked down a jumper, leaving the scoreboard at Timberwolves 53, Pelicans 47 with 2:11 remaining in the 2nd Quarter. On the stat sheet, Ayo Dosunmu (12 PTS, 4-7 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1 REB) paces the Timberwolves while Karlo Matkovic (16 PTS, 6-11 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2 REB, 1 AST) leads the Pelicans.
2Q | 3:44: Jaylen Clark scores 6 points in this stretch
Trey Murphy III knocked down a pair at the foul line, before Jaylen Clark sliced into the lane for a driving finish set up by Jaden McDaniels. Moments later, Jaylen Clark converted at the foul line and LaMelo Ball knocked down a pair at the foul line, leaving the scoreboard at Timberwolves 49, Pelicans 45 with 3:44 remaining in the 2nd Quarter. On the stat sheet, Ayo Dosunmu (12 PTS, 4-7 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1 REB) paces the Timberwolves while Karlo Matkovic (16 PTS, 6-11 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2 REB, 1 AST) leads the Pelicans.
2Q | 6:21: Jaden McDaniels hits three-pointer as Pelicans lead 43-41
Trey Murphy III recorded a steal at 6:47 and finished a 1-foot running dunk at 6:44 for the New Orleans Pelicans. Jaden McDaniels answered at 6:31 with a 23-foot three-pointer off a Jonathan Kuminga assist for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kuminga then stole a pass from Jeremiah Fears at 6:23 and drew a shooting foul on Zion Williamson at 6:21 with the Pelicans up 43-41.
2Q | 6:44: Jonathan Kuminga hits two free throws as Pelicans lead 41-37
Rudy Gobert grabbed a defensive rebound at 7:26 before Jonathan Kuminga drew a shooting foul on Derik Queen at 7:16 and made both free throws for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Trey Murphy III also converted at the foul line as the New Orleans Pelicans lead 41-37 with 6:44 remaining in the second quarter. Karlo Matkovic paces New Orleans with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting while Ayo Dosunmu leads Minnesota with 12 points.
2Q | 7:57: Jaden McDaniels dunk cuts Pelicans lead over Timberwolves to 37-35
Derik Queen hit his second free throw at 8:58 for the New Orleans Pelicans, before Jaden McDaniels answered at 8:33 with a 1-foot driving dunk off an assist from Jonathan Kuminga to trim the Minnesota Timberwolves' deficit to 37-35 with 7:57 left in the second quarter. Queen committed an out-of-bounds bad pass turnover at 8:20, and then grabbed a defensive rebound at 8:06 after Ayo Dosunmu missed a 5-foot pull-up jumper.
2Q | 10:00: Dejounte Murray layup gives Pelicans a 34-29 lead
Jaden McDaniels hit both free throws at 10:52 for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dejounte Murray answered at 10:43 with a 3-foot layup off a Derik Queen assist to push the New Orleans Pelicans ahead 34-29 with 10:00 left in the second quarter. McDaniels then missed a 24-foot three-pointer at 10:29 before Trendon Watford grabbed the defensive rebound and missed a layup that Trey Lyles corralled at 10:19.
End of 1Q: Pelicans lead Timberwolves 30-27 after Ayo Dosunmu hits late free throws
Ayo Dosunmu grabbed an offensive rebound with 0.9 seconds left in the first quarter, drew a shooting foul on Saddiq Bey, and knocked down both free throws for the Minnesota Timberwolves before Jaden McDaniels checked in for Bones Hyland. Herbert Jones missed a buzzer-beating heave at 0.0 as the New Orleans Pelicans closed the opening period ahead 30-27.
1Q | 1:39: Jeremiah Fears scores four points to put Pelicans up 26-25
Jeremiah Fears connected on an 18-foot pull-up jumper at 2:58 off a Karlo Matkovic assist after Matkovic grabbed an offensive rebound, while Bones Hyland answered with a 26-foot three-pointer at 2:50 for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After Herbert Jones pulled down a defensive board at 2:16, Jeremiah Fears finished a driving layup at 2:05 via a Saddiq Bey feed to give the New Orleans Pelicans a 26-25 lead with 1:39 left in the first quarter.
1Q | 3:40: Karlo Matkovic hits fourth three-pointer to tie it at 22
LaMelo Ball made a 4-foot shot at 4:28 and Jonathan Kuminga threw down a putback dunk at 3:58 for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Karlo Matkovic answered for the New Orleans Pelicans with a 2-foot basket at 4:13 and a 22-foot three-pointer off a Trey Murphy III assist at 3:41, tying the game at 22-22. Matkovic leads all scorers with 16 points on 4-of-4 three-point shooting, while Ayo Dosunmu has eight points for Minnesota.
1Q | 7:28: Trey Murphy III throws down alley-oop as Timberwolves lead 13-7
Jonathan Kuminga hit a 26-foot three-pointer off a Jaden McDaniels assist, and LaMelo Ball added a step-back triple plus a driving finish as the Minnesota Timberwolves took a 13-7 lead over the New Orleans Pelicans with 7:28 left in the first quarter. After Rudy Gobert and Karlo Matkovic traded defensive rebounds, Trey Murphy III slammed home a 1-foot alley-oop dunk at 7:51 off a Zion Williamson feed.
1Q | 9:43: Ayo Dosunmu scores five straight points for the Timberwolves
Ayo Dosunmu buried a 26-foot three-pointer at 10:45 off an assist from Jonathan Kuminga, then finished a running layup at 10:23 via a Jaden McDaniels feed to knot the score at 5-5 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. Zion Williamson missed consecutive interior shots at 10:04 and 10:01, and Dosunmu secured the defensive rebound with 9:43 left in the first quarter.
15 minutes to tip-off for Minnesota Timberwolves vs New Orleans Pelicans: Officials James Williams, Aaron Smith, and Simone Jelks assigned in New Orleans
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Key duel to watch: LaMelo Ball vs Zion Williamson
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Inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans ahead of 8:00 PM ET tipoff
Smoothie King Center in New Orleans hosts tonight's Emirates NBA Cup Group Play showdown as Minnesota Timberwolves visit New Orleans Pelicans.
Smoothie King Center in New Orleans hosts West Group Play with Zion Williamson testing Rudy Gobert at the rim.
Jonathan Kuminga flushed a 3-foot dunk off a Trey Lyles assist with 6.0 seconds remaining before Dejounte Murray missed a 24-foot pull-up three-pointer at the 0.5-second mark as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 115-109 after a 38-30 fourth quarter. Ayo Dosunmu led Minnesota with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 4-of-6 from deep alongside Jaden McDaniels with 23 points, while Jeremiah Fears paced New Orleans with 24 points.