NEW ORLEANS – Over their last two games, the New Orleans Pelicans have beaten the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets, the top two teams in the Western Conference. On Saturday night they will try to make it three-for-three as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson, who is sitting out the game due to team-mandated rest. Williamson also missed the first game between New Orleans and Minnesota due to personal reasons.
At 8-3, the Timberwolves come in off their first loss following a seven-game win streak. Tonight is the final game of a five-game road swing for Minnesota where they’ve picked up a win over San Antonio and a pair of victories over the Golden State Warriors.
New Orleans will be playing for its first three-game winning streak of the season and its first three-game home winning streak since March 21-Apr. 1 of last season (SAS, CHA, LAC).
Keys to the Game
Control the starters. The Timberwolves have one of the most talented starting lineups in the NBA, and in the first matchup between these teams they dominated by combining for 88 points, 16 assists, 31 rebounds, and 12 three-pointers on 67% shooting. With Zion Williamson out, it’s going to be more important for the Pelicans to keep the Wolves top-five under control.
Keep pace from outside. Minnesota outscored the Pelicans by 21 points from beyond the arc on Nov. 8, nearly doubling up the Pelicans on made triples (15-8). During their last two wins New Orleans has made 26 of 61 (42.6%) from long distance. They’ll need to stay around that level of accuracy against the Wolves.
Points in transition. In the wins over the Mavs and Nuggets, the Pelicans outscored their opponents 61-23 in fast break points. In their loss to the Timberwolves on Nov. 8 the Pels were beaten 20-2 in transition. Getting out and running and limiting the very athletic Timberwolves will be key components in pulling out a win.
Probable Starting Lineups
| Minnesota Timberwolves | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Mike Conley Jr. (11.0 pts, 5.1 ast) | G – Dyson Daniels (8.6 pts, 5.1 reb, 3.6 ast) |
| G – Anthony Edwards (26.3 pts, 5.8 reb, 5.2 ast) | G – Herbert Jones (10.8 pts, 2.1 stl, 1.6 blk) |
| F – Jaden McDaniels (9.9 pts, 2.3 reb) | F – Brandon Ingram (22.7 pts, 5.4 reb, 5.3 ast) |
| F – Karl-Anthony Towns (21.0 pts, 9.3 reb) | F – Naji Marshall (12.0 pts, 3.7 reb, 60.0 3P%) |
| C – Rudy Gobert (11.2 pts, 12.4 reb) | C – Jonas Valanciunas (12.6 pts, 8.2 reb) |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: CJ McCollum (right lung), Trey Murphy III (left knee partial meniscectomy), Larry Nance Jr. (right rib fracture), Zion Williamson (rest), and EJ Liddell (G League) are OUT; Jose Alvarado (right ankle sprain) is QUESTIONABLE
Minnesota Timberwolves: None Listed
Who: Minnesota Timberwolves (8-3) vs New Orleans Pelicans (6-6)
Series history: Pelicans lead all-time 37-35
- Nov. 8: Timberwolves def. Pelicans 122-101
- Nov. 18: at New Orleans
- Dec. 11: at New Orleans
- Jan. 3: at Minnesota
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: November 18, 6:00 PM CT
Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
READ MORE
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Jaden McDaniels is the Twolves Herb Jones
Really like how Dyson is grooming his game. Great movement of ball when he is running offense. I worry that when CJ returns we revert back to ISO ball.
DId anyone notice that you do not find the letters BI in “clutch”
Willie loses another one with his terrible 4th quarter substitutions to start the 4th. Waiting till 4 minutes left to bring Jonas back. Having Dice on the bench until 4 minutes left.