Something has to give on Wednesday night at Target Center as the sliding Minnesota Timberwolves host the bottom-feeding New Orleans Pelicans.
An unstoppable force meets an immovable object on Wednesday night at Target Center as the Minnesota Timberwolves, losers of seven straight, take on the New Orleans Pelicans, who have lost 13 consecutive games.
The Wolves have been sitting at home for four days after their most recent loss, which came on Friday night at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. They need to break out of their slump with a four-game road trip kicking off later this week, and a matchup against the Pels it the right spot to do it.
Assuming Karl-Anthony Towns plays (he’s listed as questionable with a knee sprain), the Wolves should be in prime position to pull this one out.
The Pelicans lost at home in overtime on Tuesday to the Brooklyn Nets, so Minnesota has the advantage in the rest department, as well as the star player department and pretty much every department except for the 3-point shooting one.
This is the classic “should be a win but let’s not count our chickens” game. You better believe that New Orleans thinks this could be their break-out-of-the-slump game, too, so Ryan Saunders’ crew better be careful.
Timberwolves odds against the Pelicans
Favorite: Timberwolves (-7)
Over/under: 231.5
Moneyline: -290 Minnesota/+230 New Orleans
Odds courtesy of The Action Network. Displayed odds current as of Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Tickets, TV and streaming info for Timberwolves vs. Pelicans
Television: Fox Sports North
Radio: 830 WCCO
Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options
Tickets: StubHub offers ticketing options
What to watch for in Wolves vs. Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans play fast and rely on 3-point shooting from J.J. Redick and Brandon Ingram, and that’s absolutely a recipe that could succeed in beating a Wolves team that has been extremely sloppy of late.
Redick is day-to-day with a groin injury and didn’t play in the Pelicans’ loss to Brooklyn on Tuesday, and his absence would mean that New Orleans would be down to just Ingram as a prolific shooter from the outside. And at 40 percent from deep this year, Ingram could absolutely hurt the Wolves from deep all by his lonesome.
The Pelicans struggle defensively and are just okay on the glass, so Towns should be able to have his way in this one.
Minnesota will also need to focus on containing Jrue Holiday, as he could easily be yet another in a long line of shoot-first guards who have had their way with the Wolves defense. While he’s shooting just 33.6 percent on 3-point attempts and doesn’t get to the free throw line very often, either, he could hurt the Wolves with everything in between.
Injury Report
The Wolves will be without Jake Layman (toe). Towns is questionable with a left knee sprain.
The Pelicans are still without No. 1-overall pick Zion Williamson, of course, and Redick is questionable with his groin injury.
We’ll be back after the game with player grades. Enjoy it!