Zion Williamson is edging closer to his return for the New Orleans Pelicans after missing more than two months due to a strained left hamstring. Williamson is listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even if he doesn’t play, the Pelicans have reason for optimism.
The Pelicans have won two consecutive games for the first time since the season’s opening pair of victories. Both recent wins came against the Washington Wizards, who are battling with the Pelicans for the worst record in the NBA. Despite the Wizards’ struggles, any victory is significant for a team that had previously lost 11 straight and 20 of 21 games.
The Pelicans secured back-to-back wins against the Wizards in different fashions. CJ McCollum tied his career-high with 50 points in a 132-120 victory on Friday night in New Orleans, then led a more balanced scoring effort in a 110-98 road win on Sunday night. McCollum scored 25 points in the second game, leading four other Pelicans in double figures. Dejounte Murray contributed a triple-double with 14 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.
McCollum has driven improved three-point shooting for New Orleans, making a season-high 18 three-pointers in both games against Washington and against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 30. In those three games, McCollum has shot 24-for-41 from beyond the arc.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are finishing a back-to-back set after ending a three-game losing streak with a 108-106 home victory against the Clippers on Monday. Minnesota has a hot scorer in Anthony Edwards, who scored 28 of his 37 points in the second half against the Clippers. This performance followed a career-high 53 points in a 119-105 loss at Detroit on Saturday, where he made 10 of 15 three-pointers.
Minnesota scored just 46 points in the first half against the Clippers but rallied with 62 points in the second half to secure the win. The outcome was crucial for the Timberwolves, who play four of their next six games on the road.
This is the first meeting of the season between the Pelicans and Timberwolves, with two more matchups scheduled in Minneapolis on March 19 and 21.
