In a thrilling matchup in Minneapolis on March 19, 2025, the New Orleans Pelicans secured a hard-fought victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 119-115. Zion Williamson emerged as the standout performer, scoring 29 points on an impressive 12-for-16 shooting while also contributing eight assists and five rebounds. This win was particularly significant for the Pelicans as it marked their first game following the season-ending injury of forward Trey Murphy III, who had been averaging 21.2 points per game before his injury on March 17 during a loss to the Detroit Pistons.
CJ McCollum aided Williamson's efforts with an impactful performance, ringing in 18 points along with six rebounds, three of which were three-pointers that helped him surpass Dirk Nowitzki into 19th place on the all-time three-point made list. Bruce Brown added further depth to New Orleans’ performance off the bench, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
The Timberwolves, who were looking to bounce back after two consecutive losses, came into the game riding an eight-game winning streak prior to this defeat. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 points, but endured a tough shooting night, conversely shooting 5-for-19 from the field, including a disappointing 1-for-9 from two-point range. Julius Randle and Mike Conley also contributed significantly, scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively. Following this loss, the Timberwolves now sit one game behind the Golden State Warriors in a competitive battle for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.
The Pelicans faced an early challenge when Minnesota opened the second quarter strong, rattling off an 8-0 run to seize a 38-24 lead. However, the tides turned when New Orleans rallied, outscoring Minnesota by 38-23 for the remainder of the second quarter, driven by a pivotal 14-0 run that saw them regain the lead at halftime, 62-61.
The momentum carried into the third quarter, where the Pelicans held a 96-91 lead at its conclusion. Williamson and rookie Jordan Hawkins collaborated for crucial back-to-back layups in the closing seconds of the quarter, which propelled New Orleans to a five-point lead.
In the game's final moments, with just 1:49 on the clock and the score tied at 115, the Pelicans executed a game-winning sequence. A layup from Kelly Olynyk put New Orleans ahead 117-115 with just over a minute remaining. Though Edwards and Naz Reid struggled to connect on the offensive end, McCollum’s tenacity saw him secure a critical offensive rebound, allowing Williamson to seal the game with a layup, pushing the lead to 119-115 with only 13.6 seconds left in the game.
The Pelicans controlled the glass effectively through the game, registering 11 offensive rebounds, which proved pivotal in their narrow victory. Williamson's good fortune wasn't only limited to scoring, as he showcased an all-around effort with strong defensive plays, collecting three steals during the game.
With this win, the Pelicans improved their record to 19-51, showing a glimmer of hope moving forward, while the Timberwolves, now standing at 40-31, still aim to secure a playoff position but must regroup quickly ahead of their rematch against the Pelicans scheduled for March 21 in Minneapolis.
