The 2022-23 NBA regular season concludes on Sunday, April 9, with a matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference.
This season, two teams split their first two meetings. On December 28, the Pelicans won 119-118, while the Timberwolves won 111-102 on January 25.
Injury Update New Orleans Pelicans and the Minnesota Timberwolves
The New Orleans Pelicans (42-39; 39-40-2 ATS) defeated the New York Knicks 113-105 at home on Friday. It was their second consecutive victory and their ninth in 11 games.
Despite nearly blowing a double-digit lead, the Pelicans held the Knicks to 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Trey Murphy III tormented the Knicks, scoring 31 points on 10-for-21 shooting from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Brandon Ingram had 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while CJ McCollum had 23 points and four assists.
Since returning from a two-game absence in mid-March, Ingram has scored at least 18 points in each of the Pelicans’ subsequent 12 games, while also averaging 8.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 three-pointers, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 51 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from the free throw line.
The Pelicans are tied for the seventh seed in the Western Conference with the Lakers. With three wins in four games against the Pelicans this season, the Lakers will clinch the seventh seed if both teams win on Sunday.
For injury, New Orleans continues to be without Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jose Alvarado (leg).
On Saturday at the Moody Center, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated San Antonio 151-131, the most points allowed in regulation under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
Anthony Edwards had 33 points in 25 minutes, Karl-Anthony Towns had 22, Mike Conley had 20, and Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Timberwolves won their sixth consecutive game.
Minnesota will not finish lower than ninth in the Western Conference, but they have a chance to finish eighth, ahead of New Orleans, whom they face. At best, Edwards, Towns, and Gobert will remain at the heart of the Wolves’ offense in today’s game.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Nowell (knee) and Austin Rivers (illness) are both questionable for this game.
