Twice this week the Minnesota Timberwolves were expected to win handily, and remarkably, lost. On Monday, they were beaten 132-130 by the Indiana Pacers as an 11 point favourite, and then on Wednesday, they were beaten 119-115 by the New Orleans Pelicans as a 13 point favourite.
In the Pacers win over the Timberwolves, the fact that the Timberwolves were an 11 point favourite was downright ridiculous, when you consider the fact Indiana and Minnesota had similar records entering the contest. Minnesota was at 40-29, and Indiana was at 37-29.
Eight Pacers reached double digits in points. Power forward Obi Toppin of Brooklyn, New York had 34 points, Canadian small forward Bennedict Mathurin of Montreal, Quebec had 22 points, power forward Jarace Walker of New Freedom, Pennsylvania, and point guard Quenton Jackson of Los Angeles, California had 13 points each, center Tony Bradley of Bartow, Florida, and Canadian guard Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ontario had 12 points each, point guard T.J. McConnell of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania had 11 points, and center Thomas Bryant of Rochester, New York had 10 points. Toppin and McConnell had double doubles. Toppin had 10 rebounds and McConnell had 13 assists.
The fact that the Pacers were involved in a game with 262 points scored should come as zero surprise. Last year they scored 123.2 points per game (led the NBA), and gave up 120.2 points per game (fourth most in the NBA).
While the Pacers and Timberwolves are relatively even in the standings, there is a big gap between the Timberwolves and Pelicans in the standings, as New Orleans was only at 18 wins and 51 losses heading into Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Six Pelicans reached double digits. Power forward Zion Williamson of Salisbury, North Carolina had 29 points, guard CJ McCollum of Canton, Ohio had 18 points, point guard Bruce Brown of Boston, Massachusetts had 15 points, while shooting guard Jordan Hawkins of Gaithersburg, Maryland, center Kelly Olynyk of Toronto, Ontario, and center Yves Missi of Brussels, Belgium had 13 points each.
