Pelicans 100, Timberwolves 88
MINNEAPOLIS -- The New Orleans Pelicans moved one step closer to their first playoff appearance since 2011, getting 24 points from forward Anthony Davis to dispatch the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-88 on Monday.
It was the fifth win in six games for the Pelicans (44-37), who currently hold the eighth spot in the Western Conference and can clinch a trip to the postseason with a win in their final regular-season game, Wednesday night at home versus San Antonio. If the Pelicans lose to the Spurs, New Orleans could still earn a playoff berth if Oklahoma City also loses its final regular-season game.
The Pelicans got 22 points each from guards Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon.
Minnesota, which has now lost 11 in a row and is playing a makeshift lineup with several key players out of uniform, got 24 points from guard Zach LaVine, but did not hold a lead at any point after three minutes were gone in the first quarter. Forward Chase Budinger added 18 for the Timberwolves, who are now 16-65 and own the worst record in the NBA.
New Orleans entered the night tied with Oklahoma City in the Western Conference standings, but the Pelicans hold the playoff tiebreaker. With the Thunder beating Portland at home, the Pelicans needed a win to keep pace, and got it. If the Thunder had lost to the Trail Blazers, the Pelicans would have clinched a playoff spot.
Trailing early, the Timberwolves fought back to forge a 26-26 tie with seven minutes left in the first half, before the Pelicans went on a tear. New Orleans closed the first half on a 24-9 run to open a 15-point halftime lead. Evans led all scorers at the break with 14 points, the last of which was a free throw he hit with 0.6 of a second on the clock, giving the Pelicans a 50-35 lead after 24 minutes. Davis added 10 points and blocked five Minnesota shots in the opening half, while LaVine paced the Timberwolves with 11 first half points.
New Orleans led by as many at 19 in the third quarter, helped in part by its continued mastery in swatting away opponents' shots. The Pelicans lead the NBA, averaging better than six blocked shots per game, and had nine on Monday.
NOTES: Pelicans coach Monty Williams said as much as he would like to have G Jrue Holiday in uniform on a full-time basis, they're not going to rush the player onto the court, with the Pelicans playing back-to-back games. "You can't do anything that's going to jeopardize someone's health," Williams said before Monday's game. "He's been on a good track and we don't want to mess with that. We're at our best with him on the floor. I don't have that option, though, so it's not anything I'm thinking about." Holiday played on Friday and Sunday, after missing 40 games while recovering from a stress fracture in his right heel. ... Wolves coach Flip Saunders continued stumping for F Andrew Wiggins' candidacy for league rookie of the year, noting that the first-year player from Kansas has shown incredible durability and stamina this season. "I didn't envision him playing the amount of minutes he's played this year," Saunders said. "I didn't know if he'd be playing 82 games and he's in line to play 82 games. From when we got him in September and after we worked with him where he was at then and where he's at today is beyond my expectations."