New Orleans Pelicans' Paint Dominance Falls Short Against Minnesota Timberwolves' Fourth Quarter Rally

The New Orleans Pelicans, with a record of 3-20, faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who improved to 14-8 after their encounter at the Smoothie King Center. The Wolves emerged victorious with a final score of 125-116.

First Quarter

The game began with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess. The Pelicans managed to keep pace with the Wolves, ending the first quarter trailing by just 5 points at 35-30. Zion Williamson led the charge for the Pels, contributing significantly in points in paint attempts.

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, New Orleans found its rhythm and outscored Minnesota by putting up 32 points compared to their opponent's 27. Saddiq Bey was instrumental during this period, adding crucial points and helping his team take a narrow lead into halftime.

Third Quarter

As play resumed after halftime, both teams continued trading baskets. The Pelicans maintained their slight edge thanks to Trey Murphy III's impressive performance on both ends of the court. However, despite scoring efficiently from two-point range and maintaining strong defensive rebounds, they couldn't extend their lead beyond single digits.

Fourth Quarter

The final quarter saw a shift in momentum as Minnesota's offense came alive. With Anthony Edwards leading an aggressive push that resulted in a remarkable fourth-quarter surge of 37 points for the Wolves. This late-game rally proved too much for New Orleans to handle despite Jordan Hawkins' efforts off fast breaks and solid free throw shooting from Bryce McGowens.

Despite dominating inside with an impressive total of 68 paint points throughout all quarters combined—an area where they excelled—the Pels struggled defensively against long-range shots made by Minnesota players who converted at an efficient rate from beyond-the-arc (40 percent).

For fans interested in detailed statistics: check out our comprehensive breakdown featuring key insights like "New Orleans Pelicans post-match stats," which highlights individual contributions such as Jose Alvarado’s steals or Jeremiah Fears’ assists ratio during critical moments within each segment played tonight!

Looking ahead: On December 6th at Barclays Center located Brooklyn NY USA; catch live coverage when these resilient athletes face off once more against formidable opponents—the Brooklyn Nets—scheduled tip-off time set precisely around five o'clock PM Eastern Daylight Time available via YES TV Gulf Coast Sports network streaming online through Pelican+ platform options included therein!

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