NEW ORLEANS -- — Anthony Edwards highlighted a 32-point performance with seven 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-97 on Tuesday night to take some luster off of Zion Williamson's return from a 27-game absence.

Williamson, who'd been sidelined by a left hamstring strain, had 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block in 27 minutes in his seventh game this season.

Former Pelican Julius Randle scored 16 points and ex-LSU star Naz Reid had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which led most of the game and by as many as 13 points. Rudy Gobert had 14 rebounds and six blocks.

Edwards hit four early 3s and had 14 points less than seven minutes in. He surpassed the 30-point mark for the ninth time this season.

Dejounte Murray scored 27 points for New Orleans, but CJ McCollum, who scored 50 points just two games earlier, shot 1 of 14 as the Pelicans lost for the 21st time in 24 games.

Takeaways

Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo started at point guard for a second straight night in place of Mike Conley, who was a reserve for just the second time in his 132 games with the Timberwolves. DiVincenzo scored 10 points and Conley eight.

Pelicans: Williamson and Murray worked well together in the first Pelicans game this season with both in the lineup. Twice, a Murray steal resulted in a Williamson breakaway dunk -- one of them a 360-degree, double-clutch, roundhouse jam. They just needed more help against the Wolves.

Key moment

Edwards hit a free throw and a pair of 3s during a 19-2, third-quarter run that helped Minnesota turn a 64-57 deficit into a 75-66 lead in less than four minutes. Minnesota did not trail again.

Key stat

Edwards shot 63.6% from 3-point range.

Up next

The Timberwolves visit Orlando on Thursday. The Pelicans host Portland on Wednesday.

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Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Rudy Gobert vs. Yves Missi (Jaden McDaniels gains possession)	0	0
11:40	Julius Randle makes 15-foot step back jumpshot	0	2
11:23	Dejounte Murray misses 23-foot three point jumper	0	2
11:20	Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound	0	2
11:11	Anthony Edwards makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot (Donte DiVincenzo assists)	0	5
10:58	CJ McCollum misses 24-foot three point pullup jump shot	0	5
10:57	Rudy Gobert defensive rebound	0	5
10:45	Julius Randle makes 11-foot two point shot	0	7
10:27	Jaden McDaniels blocks Herbert Jones's driving layup	0	7
10:26	Pelicans offensive team rebound	0	7
10:23	CJ McCollum misses driving floating jump shot	0	7
10:19	Yves Missi offensive rebound	0	7
10:19	Yves Missi misses tip shot	0	7
10:19	Zion Williamson offensive rebound	0	7
10:14	Rudy Gobert shooting foul	0	7
10:14	Dejounte Murray makes free throw 1 of 2	1	7
10:14	Dejounte Murray makes free throw 2 of 2	2	7
10:02	Jaden McDaniels misses 23-foot three point jumper	2	7
9:58	Herbert Jones defensive rebound	2	7
9:55	Dejounte Murray makes 4-foot driving floating jump shot (Herbert Jones assists)	4	7
9:55	Anthony Edwards shooting foul	4	7
9:55	Dejounte Murray misses free throw 1 of 1	4	7
9:54	Rudy Gobert defensive rebound	4	7
9:42	Julius Randle makes 25-foot three point jumper (Anthony Edwards assists)	4	10
9:31	Zion Williamson lost ball turnover (Donte DiVincenzo steals)	4	10
9:26	Julius Randle misses running pullup jump shot	4	10
9:25	Timberwolves offensive team rebound	4	10
9:25	Herbert Jones loose ball foul	4	10
9:13	Anthony Edwards makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	4	13
8:58	Herbert Jones bad pass (Jaden McDaniels steals)	4	13
8:53	Anthony Edwards makes 26-foot running pullup jump shot	4	16
8:51	Pelicans Full timeout	4	16
8:46	Julius Randle personal foul	4	16
8:28	Herbert Jones misses driving floating jump shot	4	16
8:25	Zion Williamson offensive rebound	4	16
8:23	Zion Williamson makes two point shot	6	16
8:12	Donte DiVincenzo misses 25-foot three point jumper	6	16
8:09	CJ McCollum defensive rebound	6	16
8:04	Zion Williamson makes dunk (CJ McCollum assists)	8	16
7:51	Rudy Gobert makes dunk (Anthony Edwards assists)	8	18
7:36	Dejounte Murray misses 26-foot three point jumper	8	18
7:34	Anthony Edwards defensive rebound	8	18
7:25	Anthony Edwards bad pass (Dejounte Murray steals)	8	18
7:20	Dejounte Murray makes two point shot (Zion Williamson assists)	10	18
7:08	Zion Williamson personal foul	10	18
7:08	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl enters the game for Zion Williamson	10	18
6:56	Rudy Gobert makes 1-foot layup (Donte DiVincenzo assists)	10	20
6:42	Rudy Gobert blocks Yves Missi 's 7-foot hook shot	10	20
6:40	Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound	10	20
6:37	Julius Randle misses 24-foot three point shot	10	20
6:33	Yves Missi defensive rebound	10	20
6:14	CJ McCollum misses 24-foot three point step back jumpshot	10	20
6:10	Anthony Edwards defensive rebound	10	20
6:05	Anthony Edwards makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	10	23
5:45	Herbert Jones makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dejounte Murray assists)	13	23
5:33	Anthony Edwards makes 17-foot two point shot	13	25
5:20	Dejounte Murray misses 13-foot step back jumpshot	13	25
5:16	Yves Missi offensive rebound	13	25
5:16	Yves Missi misses tip shot	13	25
5:15	Rudy Gobert defensive rebound	13	25
5:13	Naz Reid enters the game for Donte DiVincenzo	13	25
5:13	Mike Conley enters the game for Julius Randle	13	25
5:07	Anthony Edwards misses 25-foot three point jumper	13	25
5:02	Naz Reid offensive rebound	13	25
4:58	Mike Conley bad pass (Dejounte Murray steals)	13	25
4:54	Dejounte Murray makes two point shot	15	25
4:54	Naz Reid shooting foul	15	25
4:54	Jordan Hawkins enters the game for CJ McCollum	15	25
4:54	Nickeil Alexander-Walker enters the game for Jaden McDaniels	15	25
4:54	Dejounte Murray misses free throw 1 of 1	15	25
4:52	Rudy Gobert defensive rebound	15	25
4:36	Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses 10-foot two point shot	15	25
4:33	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound	15	25
4:23	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl makes 23-foot three point jumper (Herbert Jones assists)	18	25
4:03	Anthony Edwards misses 26-foot three point jumper	18	25
4:00	Naz Reid offensive rebound	18	25
3:59	Dejounte Murray blocks Naz Reid 's 1-foot two point shot	18	25
3:58	Naz Reid offensive rebound	18	25
3:58	Naz Reid misses 5-foot tip shot	18	25
3:58	Pelicans defensive team rebound	18	25
3:57	Rudy Gobert loose ball foul	18	25
3:57	Herbert Jones makes free throw 1 of 2	19	25
3:57	Herbert Jones makes free throw 2 of 2	20	25
3:43	Mike Conley makes 25-foot three point jumper (Naz Reid assists)	20	28
3:20	Herbert Jones makes 22-foot three point jumper (Dejounte Murray assists)	23	28
3:19	Timberwolves Full timeout	23	28
3:19	Zion Williamson enters the game for Yves Missi	23	28
3:19	Julius Randle enters the game for Anthony Edwards	23	28
3:19	Josh Minott enters the game for Rudy Gobert	23	28
2:57	Naz Reid misses two point shot	23	28
2:54	Zion Williamson defensive rebound	23	28
2:46	Jordan Hawkins misses 23-foot three point jumper	23	28
2:43	Mike Conley defensive rebound	23	28
2:36	Herbert Jones shooting foul	23	28
2:36	Julius Randle makes free throw 1 of 2	23	29
2:36	Jose Alvarado enters the game for Dejounte Murray	23	29
2:36	Brandon Boston enters the game for Herbert Jones	23	29
2:36	Julius Randle misses free throw 2 of 2	23	29
2:34	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound	23	29
2:26	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl makes driving layup (Jose Alvarado assists)	25	29
2:16	Julius Randle out of bounds lost ball turnover	25	29
2:00	Zion Williamson makes driving layup (Jeremiah Robinson-Earl assists)	27	29
1:34	Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses 27-foot three point jumper	27	29
1:32	Timberwolves offensive team rebound	27	29
1:23	Julius Randle misses two point shot	27	29
1:21	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound	27	29
1:15	Zion Williamson misses driving floating jump shot	27	29
1:13	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl offensive rebound	27	29
1:13	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl misses tip shot	27	29
1:12	Julius Randle defensive rebound	27	29
1:05	Josh Minott misses 25-foot three point jumper	27	29
1:02	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound	27	29
52.0	Jordan Hawkins makes 25-foot three point jumper (Brandon Boston assists)	30	29
41.1	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl blocks Josh Minott 's 1-foot dunk	30	29
40.1	Josh Minott offensive rebound	30	29
40.1	Josh Minott makes two point shot	30	31
34.0	Jose Alvarado makes 24-foot three point jumper (Zion Williamson assists)	33	31
24.1	Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mike Conley assists)	33	34
5.0	Jordan Hawkins misses 25-foot three point jumper	33	34
1.1	Naz Reid defensive rebound	33	34
1.0	Naz Reid misses 70-foot three point jumper	33	34
1.0	Timberwolves offensive team rebound	33	34
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	33	34

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Smoothie King Center

New Orleans, LA

Date & Time

1:00 AM, January 8, 2025

Coverage

NBA League Pass, GCSEN, FanDuel SN North Extra

Attendance

16,282

Referees

Pat Fraher, Jenna Schroeder, Evan Scott

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Oklahoma City	46	15	.754	W1
Denver	37	23	.617	L1
Minnesota	37	23	.617	W2
Portland	29	32	.475	L1
Utah	18	42	.300	L5

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

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Anthony Edwards scores 32 and the Timberwolves top the Pelicans 104-97 in Zion Williamson's return

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