The Timberwolves hand the Pelicans a 104-97 loss in the return of Zion Williamson

On By Littum

NEW ORLEANS – Chris Finch wasn’t too thrilled with his new starting lineup and how it panned out in the third quarter Tuesday night.

After the Timberwolves were tied with the New Orleans Pelicans at halftime, the Wolves allowed three offensive rebounds and committed three turnovers in a 7-0 Pelicans run. Timeout Wolves. They hadn’t even attempted a shot in the neighborhood.

“We had to wake up,” Finch said. “Get back in the game. Sometimes we have to expect more from ourselves in those moments.”

Even from the top of the lower section looking down on the Wolves bench, his anger was palpable. But after that moment, the revamped starting lineup turned it around and took control of a game that eventually turned into a 104-97 Wolves victory, their second win in consecutive nights.

“I love watching it,” guard Donte DiVincenzo said. “I think sometimes that’s what we need. Forget all the X’s and O’s, slam the clipboard, do what you gotta do, just get into us a little bit, because our guys do it for a living. We live off energy, talk to each other when we get into it and leave.”

Asked about that moment, center Rudy Gobert said with a laugh, “He’s a pretty emotional guy. … He’s got passion.”

After that timeout, the Wolves turned a 64-57 deficit into a 75-66 lead, and they never gave it up the rest of the night. DiVincenzo rolled in place of Mike Conley with seven of his 10 points. He added seven assists. Anthony Edwards, who had a game-high 32 points, also had seven during the third. The starters also opened the night with a 23-10 lead, but lost it after most of the team went cold outside of Edwards and Julius Randle (16 points).

But Tuesday’s win had a bit of a twist — Finch turned to his original starters in the closing minutes. Conley replaced DiVincenzo and the Wolves rallied down the stretch to keep the worst team in the Western Conference from pulling away, even as its best player, Zion Williamson, played for the first time since Nov. 6. Williamson had 22 points.