If not for a strong first quarter from Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans (28-24) would have likely lost by a bigger deficit on Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22).
The Pelicans came out the gates sluggish and the T’Wolves took full advantage of it, getting out to a 9-0 run within the first two minutes. It began to look like they were going to pull away early on and make this a one-sided affair before the first quarter finished, but Davis’ 19 points in the first was enough to make it an eight point deficit.
The second quarter was much of the same with Minnesota getting out to a 21 point lead with 6:39 left until halftime. The Pelicans once again fought back late dropped the deficit down to 13 at the break.
Unlike what happened on Friday night, the third quarter was fairly typical for New Orleans as they continued to fall behind. It took a solid performance from the debuting Nikola Mirotic draining a pair of threes late to help make it a 14-point ballgame heading into the fourth after being down as much as 22.
That effort from Mirotic combined with a good performance from Cheick Diallo kept them within ten points in the fourth quarter. However, it was too little too late as Andrew Wiggins put the final nail in the coffin with 57 seconds left.
The Pelicans will return to the Smoothie King Center on Monday to take on the Utah Jazz (24-28) with tipoff set for 7 pm.
-Clint Domingue