NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Malik Beasley scored 28 points, D’Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 139-134 on Tuesday night.
Zion Williamson scored 25 points and Jrue Holiday had 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, which dropped its second straight at home and fell four games behind Memphis for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.
“Hopefully, this is a game that we understand and we learn from because we can’t afford not to be locked in,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “We’re in a situation where we’re trying to win basketball games to stay relevant.
“You’ve got to be able to guard. You can’t just run up and down, try to outscore everyone.”
The Pelicans need to pile up wins in the season’s final weeks to reach the playoffs. A matchup with a Minnesota team that came in with two victories in its past 22 games was a clear opportunity to win for the seventh time in 10 games.
Instead, New Orleans hurt itself by turning the ball over 15 times, missing 25 of 39 3-point attempts, missing 11 of 27 free throws and repeatedly breaking down defensively, particularly along the perimeter.
“It was just a lack of communication, not helping teammates,” Williamson said. “This is one of those games we needed and didn’t get, so it’s a tough loss.”
But Williamson did not sound too discouraged by the Pelicans’ small and shrinking margin for error over their final 21 games.
“It’s a situation you want to be put in. I think that brings the greatness out in everybody,” Williamson said. “It’s one of those things where it’s like, that adversity is in front of you. What are you going to do about it?”
Beasley made 11 of 13 shots, including four 3s on five attempts. James Johnson scored 19 points, former LSU player Naz Reid had 13 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, and Juancho Hernangomez scored 16 for Minnesota, which shot 55.7% (54 of 97) overall and went 17 of 20 from the foul line.
“We all came together as one. We all did our jobs and we paid our rent for the day and it got us the win,” said Reid, who had to defend fellow rookie Williamson much of the game. “Winning the day, that’s something that we’re big on and I’m trying to take control of that.”
The game was tied at 122 after Holiday’s layup with 6:25 to go. New Orleans then went scoreless while missing five shots during a span of more than two minutes as the Wolves scored seven straight, starting with Russell’s 3.
With three minutes left, Holiday’s underthrown long pass for Williamson resulted in a turnover and easy dunk for Hernangomez on the other end to make it 133-124. The Pelicans couldn’t recover, missing seven more shots after that.
“It was a major team win,” Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said, noting the Pelicans have “a lot of talent over there that can really come at you in waves. … So I’m really proud of what our group was able to do.”
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Jordan McLaughlin scored 13 points while Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver each scored 11. … Scored 72 points in the paint. … Improved to 4-14 on the road vs. Western Conference opponents.
Pelicans: Lonzo Ball was 7 of 10 from 3-point range and finished with 26 points. … Brandon Ingram scored 24 points. … Josh Hart scored 11 points but missed 8 of 9 3s. … Derrick Favors scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. … Had 29 fast-break points and 24 second-chance points. … Lost for just the second time in their past 16 games against sub-.500 opponents.
SUDDEN TURN
The Pelicans looked primed to pull away early in the second quarter, when Williamson snagged an offensive rebound between Reid, Kelan Martin and Jake Layman and went back up for a layup as he was fouled. Two possessions later, Williamson threw down an alley-oop lob from Hart.
New Orleans’ lead grew to 12 when Williamson passed back to the perimeter to set up Ball’s 3, but the Pelicans began to falter defensively and Minnesota started hitting from outside.
Reid and JMcLaughlin each hit 3s during a 14-0 run than vaulted the Wolves into the lead. Minnesota hit five of seven attempted 3s on their way to a 44-point period and 72-68 halftime lead.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Chicago on Wednesday night.
Pelicans: Visit Dallas on Wednesday night in what looks to be the first time Williamson will play on consecutive nights. “I feel fine,” said Williamson, whose health has been carefully monitored by the Pelicans since arthroscopic knee surgery sidelined him for New Orleans’ first 44 games. “We got a great training staff; they did the necessary recovery things and I’ll be ready.”
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