NEW ORLEANS – For the second consecutive game, the defense that has formed the Timberwolves' backbone this season wasn't present for most of the night.
If the Wolves were going to beat New Orleans, they were going to have to outscore the Pelicans even though New Orleans was missing Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum.
It didn't help the Wolves that their two best offensive players, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards missed significant parts of the night in foul trouble. Edwards would eventually foul out with 23 points. Towns lasted the game, and thankfully for the Wolves he did because he led them to a 121-120 victory.