Sports

Wiggins' Last-Second Free Throws Push Wolves Past Pelicans

February 27, 2016 / 9:20 PM CST / CBS Minnesota

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 15 rebounds, Andrew Wiggins hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 112-110 on Saturday night.

Zach LaVine added 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including a 3-pointer with 2:43 left that gave the Timberwolves their first lead since the first quarter.

The Pelicans tied the score at 110 on two free throws by Eric Gordon with 12.2 seconds remaining. Wiggins, who was only 5 for 15 from the floor, then drove to the basket and drew a foul from Gordon.

Gordon and Ryan Anderson scored 31 points each for New Orleans, which played without All-Star forward Anthony Davis after he sprained his right big toe in pregame warm-ups. The Pelicans dropped to 1-6 in games Davis has missed.

Minnesota, which trailed 74-60 in the third quarter, used strong shooting by Towns and LaVine to come back. Towns connected on 13 of 20 shots, scoring eight quick points late in the third quarter to keep the Timberwolves within range, and LaVine hit three shots in a row as Minnesota turned a 101-97 deficit into a 106-103 lead in the fourth.

Gordon tied it with a 3-pointer at the 1:55 mark, setting up a back-and-forth finish. His two free throws put the Pelicans ahead 108-106 before Wiggins hit a pair of free throws to tie it again. Gorgui Dieng then drove for a layup to give Minnesota a 110-108 lead with 26 seconds left.

New Orleans used a 10-0 run late in the second quarter to go ahead 56-45 at the half and maintained a comfortable margin until finally feeling Davis' absence down the stretch. The Timberwolves outscored the Pelicans 18-4 in the paint during the fourth quarter.

Wiggins struggled from the floor all night, and shot an air ball floater from 5 feet that would have tied the score in the fourth quarter. But he hit all 10 of his free throws, finishing with 20 points.

Jrue Holiday had 20 points and eight assists for the Pelicans, but he also committed six turnovers.

DUELING BUZZER-BEATERS

The Timberwolves' Tyus Jones raced down the court after a Pelicans basket with 2.8 seconds left in the first quarter and made a long-range 3-pointer as time ran out. Anderson answered him with a 3 at the buzzer to end the half, catching a pass from Holiday in the final second and sinking a 3 it to make the score 56-45.

TOO LONG?

Towns scored one of his six baskets in the first half after a series of moves in the post, faking this way and that before making a shot. At the next dead ball, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry questioned loudly how a 3-second violation was not called. Holiday heard him and added his opinion: "He was dribbling in there, too. He was working on a mix tape."

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Minnesota capitalized on its best chance for a win during its three-game road trip. It faces Dallas on Sunday and is 1-9 in the second game of back-to-backs. ... The Timberwolves, who have taken the fewest 3s in the NBA and made the third-lowest percentage, were 3 for 10 through three quarters.

Pelicans: Veteran C Kendrick Perkins played a season-high 20 minutes in Davis' absence. He made 1 of 5 shots and had three rebounds. . The Pelicans lost for the first time in eight games to the Timberwolves.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: At Dallas on Sunday

Pelicans: at Houston on Wednesday