Timberwolves Face Pelicans Without Anthony Edwards as Both Teams Ride Streaks
The Minnesota Timberwolves faced the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday after winning two straight, but did so without injured star Anthony Edwards. The teams entered the matchup with contrasting runs: Minnesota was 6-3, while New Orleans had won four consecutive games to reach .500.
The Minnesota Timberwolves faced the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans on Friday, November 6, with Minnesota seeking its second NBA Cup victory while playing without Anthony Edwards. The matchup brought together a Timberwolves team that had won two straight and a Pelicans squad riding a four-game winning streak.
Minnesota entered at 6-3 after beating the Houston Rockets 117-107. New Orleans was 4-4 after back-to-back overtime wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz. The teams had not met earlier this season.
Edwards was out after undergoing right knee arthroscopy. He was expected to miss up to two months, according to an announcement on October 28, and had averaged 33.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in four games this season.
The Timberwolves also listed Terrence Shannon Jr. out with a left hip contusion. He had been sidelined since October 31 and was averaging 12 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in seven games. Donte DiVincenzo remained out after right Achilles tendon surgery in April and was hopeful of returning this season.
New Orleans had won four straight after opening the season with four losses. Its recent run included overtime victories against Memphis and Utah, and the Pelicans were playing their first NBA Cup game.
Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey were among the players Minnesota had to contain. Williamson averaged 28.5 points per game against the Timberwolves over his career, compared with a career average of 23.8, while Bey averaged 24 points against Minnesota as a Pelican.
The Timberwolves’ listed starters were Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu, Rudy Gobert, Jonathan Kuminga and LaMelo Ball. Jaylen Clark, Trey Lyles, Bones Hyland and Joan Beringer were the team’s top bench options.
Hyland had taken on more minutes during Minnesota’s injury absences. He averaged 16 minutes in the five games after Edwards went down, compared with eight minutes per game in the four games before Edwards’ injury. Against Houston, Hyland scored 19 points in 16 minutes.
For New Orleans, Trey Murphy III was listed as probable with bilateral patellar tendinopathy. Yves Missi was out with a left knee contusion and bone bruise.
The game was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET and air on KARE 11, DAZN-MIN, Gulf Coast Sports and Pelicans+.
