Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Broadcast: Local options (GCSEN / Pelicans.com); NBA League Pass available.
This is an Emirates NBA Cup West Group B matchup. Both Western Conference teams enter with solid early records. Minnesota sits higher in the standings while New Orleans has won four straight after a 0-4 start.
Current Rosters
Minnesota Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert, Bones Hyland, Jaylen Clark, Trey Lyles, Joan Beringer, Cody Williams, and others. Recent starting groups have featured Ball, Dosunmu, McDaniels, Kuminga, and Gobert.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Trey Murphy III (when available), Saddiq Bey, Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen, Karlo Matković, Bennedict Mathurin, Jordan Poole, Trendon Watford, and others. Core pieces include Williamson, Murray, Jones, Bey, and Queen/Matković in the frontcourt.
Injury Reports
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (right knee arthroscopy/surgery, out until at least late December); Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles repair, out long-term); Terrence Shannon Jr. (left hip contusion, day-to-day — missed recent games). Minnesota is significantly short-handed on the wing and in scoring.
Pelicans: Yves Missi (left knee contusion/bone bruise, out); Trey Murphy III (bilateral patella tendinopathy, day-to-day/probable or questionable in recent reports — missed the prior game). Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray have returned from earlier absences.
Recent Team Forms
Timberwolves (6-3): Strong overall despite missing Edwards and DiVincenzo. Recent results include a road win at Houston (117-107) and a home win over Milwaukee (112-100), bookended by mixed outcomes against San Antonio, the Clippers, and Golden State. They average strong defensive numbers and rely on Ball’s playmaking, McDaniels’ two-way play, Kuminga’s athleticism, and Gobert’s rim protection/rebounding. Away record is solid at 3-2.
Pelicans (4-4): Opened 0-4 before winning four straight, capped by a dramatic 120-113 overtime home victory over Utah on Nov. 4 (Zion with 23 points after halftime, Bey with 22 including clutch OT scoring, Murray with 20 in his return). They score at a high clip (~121–122 PPG range) but have defensive inconsistency. Home record is 3-2.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
LaMelo Ball / Ayo Dosunmu vs. Dejounte Murray / Jeremiah Fears / Herbert Jones: Ball’s vision and scoring creation against Murray’s defensive intensity and playmaking. Dosunmu provides secondary creation and defense. Jones is a premier perimeter defender who can harass Minnesota’s guards.
Jonathan Kuminga / Jaden McDaniels vs. Zion Williamson / Saddiq Bey / Trey Murphy III: Athletic wing/frontcourt battles. Zion’s interior dominance and physicality will test Minnesota’s frontcourt (Gobert, Kuminga). McDaniels’ length and defense are key against Bey or Murphy’s spacing and scoring.
Rudy Gobert / Joan Beringer vs. Derik Queen / Karlo Matković / Yves Missi (if available): Interior size, rim protection, and rebounding. Gobert anchors Minnesota’s defense; Queen has provided production and rebounding for New Orleans in recent games.
Supporting casts: Hyland, Clark, and Lyles off the bench for Minnesota; Mathurin, Poole, Watford, and Fears for New Orleans. Three-point shooting and transition play could swing the game.
Series History
The all-time regular-season series is even (41-41). Recent meetings have been competitive, with Minnesota taking several close or decisive wins in the prior season (including a 132-126 home win in April 2026 and earlier victories), though New Orleans has stolen some at home or in close contests. This is the first 2026-27 meeting and an NBA Cup group-stage game.
Betting Trends
Minnesota has performed well overall and covered effectively even without Edwards. New Orleans is riding a four-game win streak with improved energy and home resilience (including comebacks). Home underdogs with momentum can offer value. Overs have hit in several recent Pelicans games due to pace and free-throw volume.
Game Odds
Minnesota Timberwolves – 4.5
New Orleans Pelicans 230
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, November 5, 2026
