Timberwolves spoil Ingram’s return, top Pelicans 111-102

NEW ORLEANS(AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves looked unfazed by thelong-awaited return of one New Orleans’ star players or thePelicans’ mounting urgency to win.

AnthonyEdwards scored 37 points, Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12rebounds, and the Timberwolves spoiled Brandon Ingram’s return froma two-month absence with a 111-102 victory over New Orleans onWednesday night.

“We’re in aposition where we want to really stop worrying about the otherteam,” Gobert said. “Regardless of what’s the weather or who’shurt, whose playing, we know if we come with the right approach,the right mindset, it’s going to be a good game for us.”

D’AngeloRussell scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, who’ve won three offour. Jaden McDaniels closed out a 10-point night with a pull-upjumper and 3-pointer in the final minutes to thwart New Orleans’comeback bid.

Minnesotacoach Chris Finch praised Edwards’ ability to push the tempo andlook for scoring opportunities in transition.

“That’ssomething we’ve been imploring him to do more of is just go, gogo,” Finch said. “In transition, he’s pretty much unstoppable.”

Ingram, whohad not played since Nov. 25 and had missed 29 games with a lefttoe injury, scored 13 points but missed 14 of 18 shots, includingall six from deep.

“Great tohave him out there,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He’sknocking off some rust, which we expected.”

CJ McCollumscored 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 15 points and 12rebounds for the Pelicans, who lost their sixth straight anddropped their ninth in 12 games since star forward Zion Williamsonwent out with a right hamstring injury.

New Orleans’frustration boiled over in the middle of the fourth quarter whenJose Alvarado was called for a loose-ball foul and then assessed atechnical when he bounced the ball hard off the floor.

Green beganshouting and gesticulating angrily and was assessed a technicalfoul. He had to be restrained by assistants as he continuedlambasting officials and was ejected for the first time in his twoseasons as a head coach with his a second technical. The crowdstood and roared in support of Green as he walked toward thetunnel.

“I disagreedwith the foul and the technical that Jose got and kind of voiced mydispleasure with it and was pretty animated,” Green said calmlyafterward.

New Orleanstrailed 102-87 after Minnesota hit three of the five free throwsthey were awarded, but the Pelicans scored the next nine points —all by McCollum — to make it 102-96 with 3:27 left.

McDaniels’pullup stopped the run. And after Ingram hit a baseline turnaroundand two free throws to make it 104-100 with 1:41 left, McDanielshit his decisive 3.

“Wedesperately needed somebody to make a shot right there,” Finchsaid.

TheTimberwolves trailed by eight early in the third quarter whenRussell’s back-to-back 3s ignited a 9-0 run capped by Edwards’driving layup as he was fouled.

Soon after,Edwards’ 3 started a 14-0 Minnesota run. Gobert, who recentlymissed three games with a groin injury and had been listed asquestionable, threw down three dunks during the surge — one areverse and another an alley-oop.

“I startedthe game a little tight, but felt better and better throughout thegame,” Gobert said. “So, it’s really a positive. At the end, I wasfeeling really good.”

Minnesotaoutscored New Orleans 39-21 in the third quarter, which “wasobviously the key,” Finch said. ”We really stepped up defensively,got out and ran and created a lot of really good looks.”

Ingram missedhis first five shots before hitting a driving floater in the secondquarter. At halftime, he was 2 of 11.

Still, NewOrleans led by as many as 12 in the second quarter.

Minnesota cutit to 52-46 at halftime after Edwards hit a driving finger roll,giving him 20 points.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves:Kyle Anderson scored 10 points. ... Shot 48.8% (40 of 82) and made11 of 29 from 3-point range. ... Outscored New Orleans in thepaint, 50-40 and 18-4 on fast breaks.

Pelicans:Devonte’ Graham made all four shots he attempted — all from 3-pointrange, for 12 points. ... Shot 43.5% (37 of 85) and went 12 of 38from deep. ... Outrebounded Minnesota 42-36.