Naz Reid scored 20 points to lead a balanced offensive effort and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 120-110 on Saturday night.
Anthony Edwards scored 18 points and Jared Vanderbilt set career highs with 16 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game skid. Jarrett Culver and Malik Beasley each scored 16 points, and Jordan McLaughlin added 11.
Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 30 points. Eric Bledsoe added 28 and Zion Williamson finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who have lost three straight and eight of their last nine.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Steven Adams (12) in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoAndy Clayton-King)
Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns missed his fourth straight game after testing positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 15. The Timberwolves are 2-9 without Towns in the lineup this season.
After trailing by a point at halftime, Minnesota used a 16-3 run to pull ahead. Reid and Vanderbilt each scored four points, and the Pelicans called a timeout after Beasley went coast to coast with for a layup that gave the Timberwolves a 75-69 lead.
Vanderbilt capped the run by tipping in a missed shot to put Minnesota head by 10. Bledsoe finally broke through for New Orleans when he put back his own miss, but Culver countered with a 3-pointer and an 82-71 Timberwolves lead.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) defends against New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoAndy Clayton-King)
The Pelicans went 4 1/2 minutes without a field goal over that stretch, missing 11 straight shots from the floor. Even after hitting its final two shots of the quarter, New Orleans shot 5 for 24 and missed all four of its 3-pointers in the third.
The Timberwolves pushed their lead to 18 midway through the fourth and kept New Orleans at arm’s length the rest of the way.
TIP-INS
New Orleans Pelicans Eric Bledsoe (5) shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoAndy Clayton-King)
Pelicans: New Orleans wrapped up a six-game road swing with at 1-5 record. The Pelicans have played the sixth-toughest schedule in the NBA.
Timberwolves: In addition to Towns, Minnesota also played without guard D’Angelo Russell (rest) and forward Juancho Hernangomez (health and safety protocol).
UP NEXT
The Pelicans return home for the start of a season-long six-game homestand. The stretch tips off with a Monday night matchup against the Spurs.
Minnesota travels to the Bay Area for a two-game set against the Warriors on Monday and Wednesday.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports