136-140: Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball spoil the party for the Timberwolves

Sports writing, May 1 (EFE) .- Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball ended the party of the Timberwolves of Ricky Rubio and Juancho Hernangómez who, after four consecutive victories, were defeated in Minnesota in overtime by the New Orleans Pelicans by 136 -140.

Saturday’s victory allows the Pelicans to dream of entering the play-in that would open the door to the playoffs. The New Orleans team is now 11th in the Western Conference with 29 wins and 35 losses. The Pelicans are given 8 games to play.

Meanwhile, in the 10th position, and at the moment in the play-in, are the San Antonio Spurs, with 31 victories and 31 defeats. The Texans have 10 games left.

In the game against the Timberwolves, both Williamson and Ball were on the verge of a triple-double. Williamson with 37 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while Ball had 33 points (a career high), 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals.

The other outstanding player for the Pelicans on Saturday night was Spanish center Willy Hernangómez, who finished with a double-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds and 1 steal.

In the Timberwolves, the leading scorer was Anthony Edwards, with 29 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block, while center Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) finished the game with a double-double of 28 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists. and 3 robberies.

The two Spaniards of the Wolves had another outstanding night. Point guard Ricky Rubio was the Minnesota player most focused on defense and finished the game with 6 steals, 11 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists. For his part, power forward Juancho Hernangómez had 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block, precisely to his brother Willy.

The Timberwolves’ game against the Pelicans had been planned as the confrontation between two No. 1s in the draft, Williamson for 2019 and Edwards for 2020.

In the end, the winner was Williamson who, as Timberwolves coach Chris Finch acknowledged after the game, no Minnesota player can stop all night.

Williamson made all points from the paint (28) and the free throw line (9).

The game was one of great equality. Up to 16 times the two teams exchanged the lead on the scoreboard and although the Pelicans were 13 points ahead in the second quarter, the Timberwolves were the ones who looked like they would take the victory by leading 10 points in the fourth period.

But the Timberwolves blew a 10-point lead, 119-109, which they had with 4.22 minutes left in the game and allowed the Pelicans to make a 4-14 run to tie the game. The 2 points of the Pelicans that caused the extension were those of the final basket of Willy Hernangómez.

In overtime, Williams forced KAT’s sixth staff, first, and then Wolves’ second center Naz Reid, paving the way for the Pelicans to take the game.

(c) EFE Agency

Leave a Comment