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Scouting Report | Wolves at Pelicans

Timberwolves at Pelicans | 3:00 PM, Smoothie King Center

Where To Watch: Fox Sports North

Where to Listen 830 WCCO

These two teams are in two very different places at this point in the season.

An injured Wolves squad sits at 16-56 overall, scrapping through the final stretch of the season. The effort has been there, though, as there have been three overtime games in the last two weeks and Andrew Wiggins has continued to look like the Rookie of the Year. 

The Pelicans are still fighting for the eighth seed in Western Conference. The team sits at 38-34. While that would get them the six seed in the East, it still has them out 2.5 games behind Oklahoma City in the West. Every game for the Pelicans from here on out is pretty much a must win.

LAST MEETING

The Wolves are 0-2 against the Pelicans this season. The last game came on Jan. 23 at the Target Center. Minnesota fell 92-84. Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 21 points and 12 rebounds, although he shot just 9-of-23 from the field. Eric Gordon added 20 points. Tyreke Evans and former Wolves forward Dante Cunningham finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively. The Pelicans attempted just four threes in the game, but made three of them. 

The Wolves had six players hit double-digits in scoring, but no player exceeded 15 points. Thad Young led the way with 15, while Gorgui Dieng finished with 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Wiggins and Nikola Pekovic finished with 13 points each. Mo Williams also had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 assists. Chase Budinger added 10 points off the bench.

THIS WEEK’S RESULTS

Minnesota has lost two of its last three games. The Wolves last played on Friday night in Houston against the Rockets. Minnesota fell 120-110 despite 31 points from Wiggins. The rookie did his best James Harden impression, finishing 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. Budinger led the second unit with 23 points, continuing his hot streak. Dieng had his team’s only double-double, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Adreian Payne and Zach LaVine scored 14 and 11 points, respectively. Minnesota shot an incredible 30-of-34 from the free-throw line.

After dropping four straight, the Pelicans finally won on Friday night at home against the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans won 102-88 behind 25 points and 10 assists from Evans. Davis added 24 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Quincy Pondexter and Norris Cole added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

KEY MATCHUP: MINNESOTA’S FRONTLINE VS. ANTHONY DAVIS

The big key for the Wolves will be to stop third-year big man Anthony Davis. Davis is having his best season as a pro, averaging career-highs of 24.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, three blocks and two assists per game. He’s a guy who can effect the game drastically on both ends of the court. With the Wolves being shorthanded already, it will be especially important for the bigs to stay out of foul trouble against Davis.

It will be a tough task for guys like Dieng, Payne, Justin Hamilton and maybe even Robbie Hummel and Anthony Bennett.

In two games against the Wolves this season, Davis is averaging 21.5 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Pelicans: Ryan Anderson (knee) and Jrue Holiday (ankle) are out indefinitely.

Wolves: Anthony Bennett (ankle), Kevin Martin (hamstring) and Robbie Hummel (hand) are questionable. Kevin Garnett (knee) and Ricky Rubio (ankle) are doubtful. Gary Neal (ankle), Nikola Pekovic (ankle) and Shabazz Muhammad (finger) are out.

PROJECTED STARTERS 

Pelicans:  PG – Evans, SG – Gordon, SF – Pondexter, PF – Davis, C - Asik

Wolves:  PG – Brown, SG – LaVine, SF - Wiggins, PF – Payne, C – Dieng