Timberwolves blow 18-point second-half lead in 119-115 loss to Pelicans

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Feb 6, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves can’t get Ayo Dosunmu on the floor fast enough.

Their newest prize acquisition sat out his first game with the team against New Orleans as the trade the Wolves made with the Bulls gets finalized, so the Wolves took the floor without him.

The same team that has struggled with a lack of defensive focus and intensity — something Dosunmu can help with — showed up again in a 119-115 loss to the Pelicans on Friday, Feb. 6, at Target Center.

The Wolves had no answer for Zion Williamson, who had 29 points for New Orleans. Anthony Edwards had 35 points for the Wolves while Julius Randle and Bones Hyland each scored 20.

But the Wolves shot 43% from the floor to New Orleans’ 54%, with the Wolves’ best perimeter defender, Jaden McDaniels, getting in foul trouble. McDaniels had just six points in 22 minutes. Donte DiVincenzo also had just six points on 2-for-10 shooting.

How it happened

The Wolves were coasting in the second half, up 18 and seemed to have this one on lock. But early in the game, New Orleans showed a propensity to beat the Wolves in transition, which carried through that second half.

Williamson tends to be a problem for the Wolves to handle when he’s healthy, and that was again the case. He shot 11 for 13 from the floor. But the Wolves had issues guarding other Pelicans. Trey Murphy III had plenty of open looks from 3-point range to finish with 26 while Saddiq Bey scored 30.

The Wolves led 77-59 early in the third, but halfway through the fourth, the lead was gone. Williamson got to the hoop whenever he wanted. New Orleans grabbed a 112-106 lead with 3:01 to play.

The Wolves clawed back to tie it before two Bey free throws put the Pelicans ahead 114-112. Hyland hit a 3 to put the Wolves up 115-114, but his team couldn’t stop Williamson, who went full-speed ahead to the cup for a three-point play and a 117-115 Pelicans lead with 35.5 seconds to play. Edwards missed twice at the other end and Bey iced it at the free-throw line.

High for Hyland

Even with Dosunmu in the mix, Hyland keeps solidifying his place in the rotation, having scored 20 points in each of the past two games. With Mike Conley expected back and Dosunmu now with the Wolves, there will be competition for minutes for Hyland that hasn’t been there the past few games.

When Hyland has had a defined role (on nights Conley isn’t here or Edwards hasn’t played), he has tended to excel. Can he keep it up when the Wolves have their full complement of players?

Juzang provides a spark

Timberwolves coac Chris Finch went 10 deep in the first half, with Johnny Juzang being the 10th player to get minutes. He provided one of the biggest sparks in an otherwise ho-hum first half for the Wolves on defense.

He chased down Murphy in transition to come up with a block. That led to a Randle layup at the other end and the biggest roar of the night from the crowd to that point.

After the play, New Orleans called timeout while Edwards and Hyland mobbed Juzang. The Wolves were up 55-49 when Juzang’s blocked Murphy. They finished the half on a 15-7 run to go up 70-56 at the break.

Juzang’s first half allowed him to play a second shift in the second half, and he finished with three points in 10 minutes.