Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans, Part II: Odds, injuries, what to watch

The Minnesota Timberwolves stand at 2-0 and will look to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans for the second time in 48 hours.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Wolves beat the Houston Rockets with ease in their season opener last Wednesday and followed it up with a much grungier victory over the Pelicans on Saturday.

New Orleans was without superstar Zion Williamson and starter Josh Hart and was playing on the second night of a road back-to-back. Still, it was a relatively close game, with the Wolves’ offensive struggles making it a contest until the final minutes.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds vs. New Orleans Pelicans

The Wolves are only favored by 5.5 points by WynnBet, which is a bit of a surprise following the seven-point line and seven-point margin of victory in Saturday’s matchup between the two teams.

Then again, it’s hard to beat a team twice in a row, and Hart is listed as questionable after missing the past two games.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans

• Television: Bally Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans

We identified heading into Saturday’s tilt between the two teams that Jonas Valanciunas has given Karl-Anthony Towns some problems in the past, and that the Wolves star would need to stay out of foul trouble to make it an easy win for the Wolves.

Half of this key to the game came true, as Valanciunas did give Towns and the Wolves some problems, and KAT was indeed in foul trouble. In fact, Towns fouled out with his sixth personal (and a technical, to boot) with 6:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But the Wolves emerged with a victory despite Valanciunas’s 20 points and 17 rebounds and Towns’ early disqualification.

The other key was to not let any of the Pelican’s perimeter players this side of Brandon Ingram do any damage. That happened, as Ingram got his (30 points on 23 shots), but he also committed seven turnovers and Devonte’ Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined to shoot just 8-fo-38 from the field.

The Wolves need to have a repeat performance on defense (minus the Towns foul trouble, of course) and a much cleaner and more efficient game on offense. D’Angelo Russell must play better, and the bench as a whole needs to shoot the ball more accurately from the perimeter.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelican’s Josh Hart is listed as questionable with the same injury that caused him to miss Saturday’s game. Williamson remains out.

The Wolves still don’t have any injuries to report, which is amazing.

We’ll be back following the game with some key takeways. Here’s to 3-0!