Zion Williamson scored 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting, and the New Orleans Pelicans pulled away for a 117-106 win over the host Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
C.J. McCollum tallied 24 points on 8-for-16 shooting for New Orleans, which won its fourth game in a row. Brandon Ingram scored 19 points, and Herbert Jones finished with 16 points.
Anthony Edwards scored 35 points to lead Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and Jaden McDaniels chipped in 11.
Minnesota lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Timberwolves entered the contest with a 7-0 record after their previous losses.
The Pelicans outscored the Timberwolves by eight points during the third quarter to transform a 13-point lead into a 21-point advantage.
New Orleans led 74-60 in the third quarter when Larry Nance Jr. made a layup off an assist from Jones. The Pelicans then went on a 10-0 run to widen the gap.
The burst included two free throws and a layup by Williamson and two jumpers by Ingram. The Pelicans led 84-60 with 4:33 left in the third quarter by the end of the run.
Minnesota trailed by double digits throughout the fourth quarter. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch replaced his top starters, including Edwards and Towns, with a little more than three minutes to go.
New Orleans led 59-46 at the half.
The score was even at 32-32 after Towns made a hook shot with 8:37 remaining in the first half.
The Pelicans followed with an 8-0 run and never looked back. McCollum started the run with a jumper, and Jonas Valanciunas finished it with a 15-foot jumper to make it 40-32 with 5:35 to go before the break.
New Orleans increased its lead to as many as 16 points before halftime. Jones made a 3-pointer to put the Pelicans on top 57-41 with 1:38 left.
Pelicans coach Willie Green drew a technical foul in the final minute of the half. Towns made the technical free throw, and Edwards made one of two free throws in the closing seconds to pull Minnesota within 13 points at the break.
–Field Level Media
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