Ayo Dosunmu scored 26 points and Jaden McDaniels added 23 as the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-109 on Friday night in an NBA Cup West Group B matchup.
LaMelo Ball had 22 points and eight assists for Minnesota, which snapped New Orleans’ four-game winning streak. Jonathan Kuminga scored 17 points, Rudy Gobert contributed eight points and 11 rebounds and Trey Lyles grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.
Minnesota, which outscored the Pelicans 38-30 in the fourth quarter, has won three straight games and four of its last five.
Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 24 points and Karlo Matkovic added 18. Saddiq Bey had 17 points, Zion Williamson had 13 points and eight rebounds, Trendon Watford scored 12, and Trey Murphy III chipped in 10.
New Orleans pulled within 104-99 on Bey’s 3-pointer with 2:53 left but missed shots on its next two possessions. Dosunmu hit a 3-pointer and McDaniels made two free throws to give Minnesota a 10-point cushion with 1:32 remaining.
After Fears scored with 12 seconds left to pull within 113-109, Kuminga dunked on the other end for the final margin.
Matkovic scored 16 points with four 3-pointers in the opening quarter to help the Pelicans take a 30-27 lead at the end of the period.
Minnesota outscored the Pelicans 30-21 in the second quarter to build a 57-51 advantage at the half.
Williamson, who was held to two points in the first half, scored eight points during a 12-0 run to put New Orleans ahead 73-66 with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
The Pelicans led 79-77 heading into the fourth quarter after holding Minnesota to 26.1% (6 of 23) shooting in the third.
Lyles threw down a dunk with 3:55 remaining to cap a 15-4 run and put Minnesota ahead 102-94.
The Timberwolves played the second half without backup center Joan Beringer, who exited the game in the second quarter with a nasal fracture.
–Field Level Media
