Timberwolves vs. Pelicans: Edwards’ Heroics Seal Overtime Thriller 149-142

Sometimes the stats sheet tells you everything you need to know, and sometimes it barely scratches the surface. On a humid Tuesday night, the Timberwolves took on the Pelicans inside the Smoothie King Center. The numbers were certainly gaudy—291 combined points, two overtime periods, and enough lead changes to give you whiplash. But the real story wasn’t just the scoring; it was the sheer refusal of Anthony Edwards to let the Minnesota Timberwolves lose.

In a season that has felt like a grind for New Orleans, this game was a microcosm of their frustration. For the Timberwolves, it was a testament to resilience. Minnesota walked out of the Big Easy with a 149-142 overtime victory that felt less like a basketball game and more like a heavyweight prize fight where neither boxer knew how to stay on the canvas.

Edwards Takes Over When It Matters Most

The narrative of the night belongs squarely to Anthony Edwards. Finishing with a season-high 44 points, Edwards didn’t just fill the bucket; he picked his spots with the precision of a veteran surgeon. The first half was sluggish for the Minnesota Timberwolves, particularly the second quarter, where the Pelicans’ offense exploded for a 15-0 run that left the Wolves looking dazed and confused.

But the second half? That was the Ant-Man show. He dropped 34 of his points after the break, putting the team on his back when the offense stagnated. With the clock winding down in regulation and the Timberwolves trailing by two, the arena held its breath. Edwards drove hard to the rim, absorbing contact and banking in a layup with just 2.3 seconds remaining. It was the kind of play that separates All-Stars from superstars—a moment of pure will that forced overtime and sucked the air right out of the building.

“He just has that look in his eye,” said a teammate post-game, though the sentiment was obvious to anyone watching. Edwards wasn’t just playing; he was competing with a fury that New Orleans couldn’t match in the closing minutes.

A Valiant Effort from the Pelicans

You have to feel for the Pelicans. Sitting at a dismal 3-19, playing without their engine Zion Williamson (right adductor strain), they had every excuse to fold early against a Western contender. Instead, they played perhaps their most spirited basketball of the season.

Trey Murphy III was spectacular, leading New Orleans with 33 points and crashing the boards for 15 rebounds. He was everywhere, knocking down big shots and keeping possessions alive. Rookie Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears also stepped up, both dropping 21 points and proving that, despite the record, there is young talent bubbling under the surface in NOLA. Saddiq Bey added 22 points, contributing to a balanced attack that saw the Pelicans shoot nearly 55% from the field.

For large stretches, they looked like the better team. They moved the ball well (26 assists), dominated the glass (53 rebounds to Minnesota’s 49), and capitalized on Minnesota’s turnovers. But in the NBA, moral victories don’t show up in the standings, and this one will sting more than most.

Overtime Domination

Once the game tipped into the extra period, the momentum shifted decisively. It felt as if the Pelicans had emptied their emotional tank just getting to the finish line of regulation. Minnesota, smelling blood, tightened the screws defensively.

Julius Randle, who had a quiet night offensively relative to his usual standards, came alive in the extra session, scoring eight crucial points to widen the gap. Rudy Gobert was his usual towering presence, finishing with 26 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring a defense that finally found its footing when it counted. The Wolves outscored the Pelicans 20-13 in the extra frame, turning a nail-biter into a comfortable margin by the final buzzer.

Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid provided the necessary sparks off the bench and perimeter, combining for 33 points. Reid, in particular, hit timely threes that kept the Wolves within striking distance during New Orleans’ surges.

Looking Ahead

For the Timberwolves, this is the kind of ugly, gritty win that builds character for a playoff run. They didn’t play their best basketball for 48 minutes, but they played their best for the 5 minutes that decided the outcome.

The Pelicans host these same Timberwolves again on Thursday night, giving them a quick shot at redemption. If they can bottle the energy they played with for the first 47 minutes and find a way to close, they might just snap this losing streak. But if Anthony Edwards brings the same fire he brought tonight, the Pelicans might be in for another long evening.

Tonight, however, belongs to the Timberwolves, and specifically to the young superstar who refused to let them go quietly into the New Orleans night.