Well, tonight’s outcome was certainly a pleasant surprise — especially considering the early stacked deck. The New Orleans Pelicans emerged with a 123-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but that outcome seemed very much in doubt less than five minutes into the game.
Anthony Davis was a last minute scratch due to a bad stomach, and Jahlil Okafor, who was AD’s replacement at center — and responsible for most of the Pelicans scoring early, had to sit at the 7:41 mark of the first quarter with three fouls. The Timberwolves seized the opportunity, jumping out to a 15-8 lead, but then the Pelicans rediscovered their long ball stroke, and rode a bunch of hot hands to a 63-51 halftime lead.