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Smoothie King Center Showdown: Minnesota Timberwolves Clash with New Orleans Pelicans

In a high-scoring affair at the Smoothie King Center, the Minnesota Timberwolves' record now stands at 20-5 after a hard-fought battle against the New Orleans Pelicans, who improved their season to 16-12. The final score read 121-107 in favor of the home team.


SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 23: Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court against the Sacramento Kings on December 23, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Timberwolves started strong, putting up 29 points in the first quarter and maintaining a competitive edge throughout the game. Despite their efforts, they were unable to secure a lead greater than four points and found themselves trailing for most of the match. The team's efficiency on court was notable with an overall efficiency rating of 106 and an effective field goal percentage of 51 percent. They also excelled in second-chance opportunities, converting six out of nine attempts into 17 points.


Minnesota's bench made significant contributions by adding 53 points to the team's total score. In terms of ball movement, they tallied an impressive count of 26 assists while maintaining an assist-to-turnover ratio just above two. The defensive effort saw them block three shots and steal five possessions from their opponents.


The Pelicans showcased their offensive capabilities by leading for over half an hour during gameplay and establishing a commanding biggest lead of seventeen points. Their scoring was spread across all quarters with consistent performance that culminated in seven blocks and seven steals defensively.


New Orleans capitalized on turnovers, scoring one more point off them than Minnesota did with twenty-one compared to twenty from the Timberwolves. Both teams ended up committing fourteen turnovers each throughout the game.


The Pelicans' field goal percentage stood slightly higher at nearly fifty percent which contributed significantly to their victory alongside superior free throw shooting accuracy at approximately seventy-eight percent compared to seventy-four percent from Minnesota.


As fans look forward to future matchups, they can anticipate seeing how Minnesota will bounce back from this setback when they face off against Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on December 14th at 7:30 PM CST. Fans can catch this upcoming game live on BSN channel number six hundred sixty-eight or BSSW channel number six hundred seventy-six for those following along from Dallas.

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