Any chance the New Orleans Pelicans had of getting their second win in three days over the Minnesota Timberwolves was probably gone about nine hours before Friday’s tip-off.
That’s when the Pelicans announced that Zion Williamson was unavailable because of a lower back contusion he suffered in Wednesday’s game against Minnesota.
Without Williamson, the Pelicans didn’t have nearly enough firepower for the Timberwolves. The results were a 134-93 loss at the Target Center.
It was the Pelicans' third loss by 40 or more points this season.
“Tonight was more about us just being careless, being mindless,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green. “We know we can be better. In order to give ourselves a chance to win these games, our guys know we have to take care of the basketball. We didn’t do a good job of that tonight.
The Pelicans hung around early, trailing just 28-22 at the end of the first quarter. But the Timberwolves stretched that lead to 62-48 at halftime.
Two nights earlier, it was Williamson’s 29-point, eight-assist and five-rebound performance that gave the Pelicans arguably their best win of the season over these same Timberwolves.
“Zion’s tough,” Timberwolves’ guard Anthony Edwards said after that one. “He’s a tough cover.”
With no Williamson to worry about, the Timberwolves had little trouble this time around.
The five starters the Pelicans used Friday night (Jose Alvarado, CJ McCollum, Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and Yves Missi) are averaging a total of 55.3 points this season.
“It’ll definitely be more on CJ,” Green said before the game. “He understands that and he’s capable. But collectively, we’ve got to attack as a team. CJ will get the ball more and get more touches, but he’ll also have the defense’s eyes on him more. So trusting each other offensively and making sure we’re sound on the defensive end.”
It didn't happen.
McCollum scored 15 points to lead the Pelicans (19-52), who lost two of their three games against the Timberwolves (41-31) this season. Brown scored 14.
Elfrid Payton, a Gretna native, made his return to the Pelicans after signing a 10-day contract. It’s the third stint with the Pelicans for Payton, who played with the team in the 2018-’19 season and again this season for seven games before being waived in December.
"Anytime I can put on this jersey, it feels good,” Payton said at Friday morning’s shootaround.
Payton entered the game in the fourth quarter with the Pels trailing 97-72. He recorded an assist.
The Pelicans finish their 3-game road trip Sunday when they play the Detroit Pistons. Six days ago, the Pistons beat the Pelicans 127-81 at Smoothie King Center. The 46-point loss tied the record for worst regular season loss in franchise history.