Fresh off a stinging 119-115 defeat to New Orleans, the Minnesota Timberwolves are hungry for revenge as they host the Pelicans again at Target Center, where Anthony Edwards aims to shake off his recent shooting woes after going 5-for-19 in their last matchup.
The Pelicans, riding high from Zion Williamson's masterful 29-point performance on Wednesday, face the tough task of beating the same team twice in their building - something that's proven particularly challenging given Minnesota's impressive 7-1 record against Southwest Division opponents at home this season.
The Target Center crowd will be watching closely as the home team Timberwolves (40-31) square off against an away team Pelicans (19-51) squad that's somehow found their groove despite missing key players Trey Murphy, Brandon Boston, and Herbert Jones.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Minnesota Timberwolves vs New Orleans Pelicans matchup, our predictive model gives the Wolves a 55% chance of defeating the Pels.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 55% win probability
- Superior offensive efficiency (8052 points scored in 71 games)
- Better defensive record (7768 points against vs Pelicans' 8333)
- Stronger recent form (LLWWW vs Pelicans' WLLLW)
New Orleans Pelicans: 45% win probability
- Poor win-loss record (19-51, 14th in Western Conference)
- Defensive struggles (8333 points allowed, third-worst in West)
- Road game disadvantage (21 games below .500 overall)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans odds
Here are the latest odds for the NBA matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Friday, March 21.
Minnesota Timberwolves | New Orleans Pelicans | |
---|---|---|
Moneyline | -850 (via bet365 US) | +625 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) |
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans preview
Fresh off their gutsy 119-115 road win on Wednesday, the Pelicans look to pull off another upset at Target Center against a Timberwolves squad that's eager to snap their two-game skid.
Zion Williamson's been absolutely cooking lately - he dropped 29 points with 8 dimes in their last matchup, making the T-Wolves' defense look pedestrian with his 75% shooting from the field.
The Wolves' Anthony Edwards had a rough night shooting (5-19) on Wednesday, but don't expect the young star to stay cold for long, especially on his home court where he's been lighting it up this season.
Minnesota's recent cooling off period comes at an interesting time - they'd been on fire with an eight-game win streak before dropping their last two, and their usually reliable three-point shooting (41% last game) hasn't been enough to secure wins.
The Pelicans' depth is being tested with Trey Murphy, Brandon Boston, and Herbert Jones all sidelined, but Bruce Brown's stepped up big time off the bench, contributing 15 points and some crucial defensive stops in their last victory.
While the Wolves have dominated Southwest Division opponents at home this season, winning seven of their last eight such matchups, the Pelicans have this weird knack for showing up at Target Center - they've covered the spread in five of their last six night games here.
Keep an eye on the final few minutes - Wednesday's game came down to the wire with the Pelicans' defense clamping down hard, holding Minnesota to just two points in the final 2:39.
With the Wolves at full strength and looking to avoid a third straight loss, this rematch has all the makings of another nail-biter in Minneapolis.
Key stats
- 1Timberwolves sit 8th in Western Conference with 40-31 record while Pelicans struggle at 14th with 19-51
- 2Minnesota shows stronger recent form with 3 wins in last 5 (LLWWW) compared to Pelicans' inconsistent run (WLLLW)
- 3Timberwolves maintain positive scoring differential (+284) while Pelicans suffer -597 deficit
- 4Minnesota averages 113.4 points per game versus New Orleans' 110.5, suggesting offensive advantage for home team
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans form


Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans head to head
Minnesota Timberwolves
33%
New Orleans Pelicans
67%
Mar 20, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves
115 : 119
New Orleans Pelicans
Jan 8, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans
97 : 104
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jul 12, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves
81 : 74
New Orleans Pelicans
Jan 4, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves
106 : 117
New Orleans Pelicans
Dec 12, 2023
New Orleans Pelicans
121 : 107
Minnesota Timberwolves
Nov 19, 2023
New Orleans Pelicans
120 : 121
Minnesota Timberwolves