Pelicans 114, Timberwolves 99
NEW ORLEANS – Forward Anthony Davis scored 22 of his game-high 35 points in the first half and helped erase a 17-point deficit to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 114-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center.
In winning for the third time in four games, the Pelicans (14-27) roared back from a 38-21 first-quarter deficit. It was the fifth time this season Minnesota (13-30) had lost a lead of at least 17 points.
New Orleans held Minnesota scoreless for 10 consecutive possessions at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter to pull away. Guard Jrue Holiday had 19 points and seven assists and guard Tyreke Evans added 13 points and five assists for the Pelicans.
Minnesota was led by guard Andrew Wiggins with 21 points and center Karl-Anthony Towns with 20 points and 13 rebounds, but the Pelicans outscored the Timberwolves 63-39 in the second half.
The Pelicans closed the third quarter on a 7-1 run to take an 82-75 lead into the final period. They did it by scoring four points in the final five seconds -- with guard Jrue Holiday hitting a 14-foot floater on the side of the lane and then forward Dante Cunningham alertly intercepting a lazy inbounds pass from Zach LaVine for a buzzer-beating layup.
That capped a 31-15 quarter for New Orleans.
The Timberwolves came out smoking, making 15 of their first 20 shots on their way to a 43-28 lead early in the second quarter. Minnesota cooled off somewhat in the rest of the quarter, finishing the half with 21-of-40 shooting to lead 60-51 at halftime.
Davis brought New Orleans back from a 17-point deficit with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting points, and guard Jrue Holiday and Norris Cole added seven points each.
Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett got into a tussle with Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson late in the half, throwing his left arm into Ryan’s face on a trip down court. But the officials called Anderson for a blocking foul, and Garnett made 1 of 2 foul shots to give the Timberwolves a 58-51 lead.
The Wolves were paced in the first half by guard Andrew Wiggins with 14 points, and rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns had nine points and eight rebounds.
NOTES: New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said the Pelicans' season-long seven-game home stand is critical to any hopes of their sneaking into the playoffs. "That's exactly what it is," said Gentry, who team entered last night's contest against Minnesota 14 games under .500. "We have to do well on this home stand if we have any chance." ... Pelicans SG Tyreke Evans played despite a sore right knee. "I think he probably has pain, but anybody that knows Tyreke knows that he's an extremely tough guy and he's going to try to be out there any opportunity that he can," Gentry said. ... Minnesota interim coach Sam Mitchell said breaking a nine-game losing streak with a 117-87 rout of Phoenix on Sunday was like lifting a heavy weight. "You lose nine games in a row, I just think it's good for everybody," Mitchell said. "But the NBA is short-lived, and hopefully that feeling of winning resonates with good positive thoughts."