Pelicans vs Timberwolves

New Orleans is hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves and coach Doc Rivers as well as assistants Spencer Rivers and Sam Cassell were in attendance. There are ...

New Orleans is hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves and coach Doc Rivers as well as assistants Spencer Rivers and Sam Cassell were in attendance. The Minnesota guard is the son of Doc and the brother of Spencer so that is a special case for the Rivers family on Wednesday. There are probably a few reasons why the coaches are there as they can get a head start on scouting the Pelicans for the Sixers and for Austin Rivers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the New Orleans Pelicans. We continue our NBA odds series with a Timberwolves-Pelicans prediction and pick.

The fact that they were able to weather the storm during his absence speaks to the strength of the rest of their team. For as good as Zion’s offense has been, his most impressive improvement has come on the defensive end of the court. The Timberwolves allow the 10th-most points per game to opposing teams – paving the way for McCollum to continue his hot stretch, The Timberwolves will need to flip the script tonight if they want to cover against a red-hot Pelicans team who is getting their best player back. Reid is a lights-out three-point shooter who does a great job spacing the floor and giving Anthony Edwards room to operate. While the Pelicans did go 3-0 in his absence, they surely are pleased to welcome back their star player. The Pelicans are 18-15 against the spread while 58% of their games have gone over. The Timberwolves are 13-21 against the spread while 56% of their games have gone under the projected point total. For the season, Reid has shot 38% from beyond the arc. Reid is much more limber on the defensive end but still has enough bulk to check Zion in the post. Edwards has done his best to will his team to cover their recent losses as he’s averaged 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG across their last three games. Reid could play a huge role in tonight’s game due to the matchup problems that Zion gives starting center Rudy Gobert.

This marks New Orleans' eighth overall sellout on the season, which also includes the season opener against the Jazz, both matchups against the Warriors, one ...

[Celtics](https://www.celticsblog.com), the Dec. [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.canishoopus.com) (16-18) We encourage fans arrive early and continue to make the Smoothie King Center the best atmosphere in the NBA.” “Our team thrives off of the energy our fans bring to each and every game. [our preview](https://www.thebirdwrites.com/2022/12/28/23529290/new-orleans-pelicans-minnesota-timberwolves-zion-williamson-rudy-gobert-murphy-daniels-towns) a read. [76ers](https://www.libertyballers.com) [has](https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/new-orleans-pelicans-announce-sellout-crowd-wednesday-minnesota-timberwolves-friday-philadelphia-76ers) already sold out as well.

Zion Williamson, among others, returns to the court tonight as New Orleans tries to extend its winning streak to four games.

With Rudy Gobert patrolling the paint, scoring inside will be a challenge. The fourth-year big man is averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game while shooting 84.6% from the floor. The Pelicans have gotten quality contributions from different players each night during their win streak. should be up to it. [Naji Marshall Has Career Night Versus Pacers](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/naji-marshall-cuts-up-career-night-pacers) [Pelicans Fans: NBA All-Star Voting Is Live](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/pelicans-running-campaign-to-vote-players-in-all-star-game) [Shorthanded Pelicans Pull Away From Pacers](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/pelicans-pacers-recap-mccollum-haliburton) [CJ McCollum Finding A Groove](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/pelicans-cj-mccollum-is-finding-his-shooting-groove-again) [Jonas Valanciunas Proves Playoff Value](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/jonas-valanciunas-playoff-trade-value-pelicans) [Pelicans Trade Market Index: Surplus Salaries](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/pelicans-trade-market-index-surplus-salaries) [Gayle Benson's Christmas Spirit on Full Display](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/gayle-bensons-christmas-spirit-pelicans-saints) [Zion Williamson's 100-Game Report Card Has a Big Surprise](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/zion-williamsons-100-game-report-card) [Dyson Daniels Playing Through No-Calls In The Clutch](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/dyson-daniels-nba-last-two-minute-report-pelicans) [Willie Green Going With The Flow Versus Hall Of Famer Gregg Popovich](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/nba/willie-green-gregg-popovich-nba-hall-of-fame) [Zion](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans) Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Dyson Daniels will all be available tonight when the [Pelicans](https://www.si.com/nba/team/new-orleans-pelicans) host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans ranks tops in the league in 4th Quarter offensive rating (119.1) and fourth in net rating in the final period (6.1), though they could pick it up a bit on the defensive end (113.0). Closing games has been a big issue for Minnesota as of late, while the Pelicans are one of the top fourth quarter teams in the NBA. This will be the first meeting between the Pelicans and T-Wolves this season, though if history is any indication, the game will be competitive. [Brandon Ingram](https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans) and E.J. The Timberwolves have four three-game losing streaks and yet they have played well enough to still just be two games under .500 (16-18). [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.si.com/nba/team/new-orleans-pelicans) seemed to have righted themselves in putting together a three-game winning streak.

Pelicans (22-12), Timberwolves (16-19). Zion Williamson took over the game and the result was another New Orleans victory. Trailing in the fourth quarter ...

New Orleans entered Wednesday one game out of first place in the West, trailing only Denver, but erased that deficit with a win (combined with the Nuggets losing a nail-biter in Sacramento). The Pelicans visit the Grizzlies on Saturday, but won’t face Denver again until a pair of meetings in late January. Valanciunas went for 12 points and 11 rebounds in the same 29 minutes of action; Gobert notched 10 and eight, to go with four blocks. There was additional good news on the scoreboard as midnight approached Wednesday, because Denver’s narrow loss in Sacramento meant the Pelicans returned to first place in the Western Conference, a perch they held for a week-plus earlier in December. Fortunately for the Pelicans, Zion Williamson returned from a three-game absence due to illness and decided to take over against Minnesota, lifting New Orleans to another victory. New Orleans started slowly, trailed almost the entire night and never led by more than four points in what was a constant uphill battle Wednesday.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves post game quotes from Pelicans head coach Willie Green and players on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

Like I said on the radio interview, I think he’s the MVP of our league. We were just trying to get a stop on the defensive end and let that fuel our offense.” I think when you look at the fact that we’re one of the best teams in the West, and he’s leading us – he put up 43 points on 21 shots. He does a great job of trying to find his teammates as well. He got that steal, went down and finished and hit the three that was big for us. He understands the moment and he made big plays after big plays.