After victories against Dallas then Denver, the Pelicans challenged a third consecutive big game: the Wolves. And since the team’s current schedule is particularly busy, Zion Williamson is resting.
Despite everything, it was the locals who quickly took control of the match, thanks in particular to Jonas Valanciunas’ 11 points in the first quarter. Herb Jones is monstrous in defensive activity and the Pelicans find some opportunities for quick play, which allows them to take a 15-point lead (43-28).
However, this will be the biggest gap of the match, because Karl-Anthony Towns and the Wolves quickly get back on track, with two teams in place and forcing second, third and fourth efforts on the offensive level.
The vast majority of baskets are therefore complicated to fetch, like this low post fight between Jonas Valanciunas and Karl-Anthony Towns, the two men snatching the ball from each other before the Lithuanian manages to shoot. Despite everything, the Pelicans are still in the lead, and on a 3-pointer from Matt Ryan, they are still +14 (108-94) eight minutes from the end of the match. It smells good for Willie Green’s men…
The winning shot for KAT
Except that Minnesota’s zone passes will disrupt New Orleans, and there is therefore only one possession left for the locals entering the last three minutes!
The end of the match was stifling with Karl-Anthony Towns giving the Wolves the advantage at 3 points. Brandon Ingram made a super complicated shot to equalize (119-119) before Rudy Gobert missed two free throws. In the process, Brandon Ingram provokes the sixth foul from Anthony Edwards but only puts one shot out of two.
Karl-Anthony Towns therefore has the winning ball in hand, Anthony Edwards being on the bench, and KAT attacks Dyson Daniels to register a floater with the board which puts Minnesota back in front (121-120). Brandon Ingram still has a few seconds to snatch victory but his shot misses. What an end to the match…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Money time under pressure. Faced with a large part of the match, the Pelicans tensed up as the final buzzer approached, facing the Wolves who never gave up. The spectators in any case went through all the emotions with the 3-point successes of the Wolves which put them back in front, the ultra complicated basket of Brandon Ingram to equalize, the missed free throws of Rudy Gobert and Brandon Ingram, this decisive shot by Karl-Anthony Towns and of course this final failed attempt by Brandon Ingram…
– An area that destabilizes. Even if they are no longer the best defense in the league (3rd), the Wolves are very solid on this side of the field, and above all they have several strings to their bow to make their opponents think. The various passages in the zone thus destabilized Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
