The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 149-142 in overtime Tuesday at Smoothie King Center, with Anthony Edwards scoring a season-high 44 points. Edwards, who struggled from deep in the first half, hit five of eight three-pointers in the second half and forced overtime with a driving layup in the final seconds of regulation.
Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego emphasized the team’s resilience despite the loss, praising the effort on both ends. “I loved our effort on both ends of the floor. Guys are buying in… showed great resiliency tonight, toughness, physicality,” Borrego said.
Rudy Gobert contributed 26 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, while Julius Randle added eight points in the extra period to secure the Timberwolves’ third straight win, improving their record to 13-8. Jaden McDaniels chipped in 17 points, and Donte DiVincenzo added 15.
Borrego highlighted the performance of his young players, particularly Trey Alexander, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears. “These are their moments. They’re ready for the moment, stepping into the moment,” he said.
Despite New Orleans’ 33-point effort from Trey Murphy III and 22 points from Saddiq Bey, the Pelicans struggled to maintain their second-quarter lead. Minnesota outscored New Orleans 42-35 in the third quarter, with Edwards scoring 20 points during that span to shift momentum.
Borrego also addressed strategic adjustments in crunch time, including the use of smaller lineups with additional ball-handlers. “Jose [Alvarado]… steadies us in critical moments. I liked what we were doing on both ends of the floor at the time and executed everything we needed until that final stretch,” he said.
Minnesota shot 50% from the field and 39% from three-point range, while the Pelicans hit 55% overall but only 57% from beyond the arc, highlighting a contrast in execution and pace. The Timberwolves recorded 41 rebounds and 31 assists compared with New Orleans’ 36 boards and 26 assists.
Borrego remains confident in the team’s offensive progress. “No doubt… these guys are more than capable of scoring 120, 130, 140 like they showed tonight. The guys trusting each other, playing with great pace, moving the ball, sharing it… we’re moving the needle offensively,” he said.
The Pelicans, now 3-19, will look to rebound in Thursday’s rematch against Minnesota at Smoothie King Center. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves continue their hot streak, showing that their combination of veteran talent and emerging young players can challenge any team in the league.
