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Pelicans at Timberwolves Game Thread

The Wolves host the Pelicans in the 2nd to last game of the year, and it's a big one for the Pels.

By Eric in Madison
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Pelicans at Wolves
7:00 pm CDT
FS North

The New Orleans Pelicans are in town tonight, coming off a disappointing loss yesterday to the Houston Rockets. This is a vital game for the Pels, who are currently tied with the Thunder for the 8th spot in the Western Conference at 43-37. The Pelicans hold the tie breaker against the Thunder, so if they finish with the same record, they get the playoff spot. The Thunder play the Blazers tonight and are here for the final regular season game on Wednesday, while the Pels get the Spurs on Wednesday, who still could be playing for seeding at that point (I think).

All of that makes tonight a must win for the Pelicans, who can clinch with a win and a Thunder loss, and control their own fate with a win even if the Thunder also win. So they aren't going to be taking anything for granted against a short-handed Wolves team, who may also be without Kevin Martin tonight due to illness.

The Pels are of course led by the dominant Anthony Davis, who does everything on the basketball court and makes it look easy. The Wolves have nobody who can realistically match up with him. and it could be a long night trying to control him in the paint and on the perimeter.

Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday, who missed most of the season with an injury, is questionable for tonight due to a stress reaction in his leg. My best guess is that they gamble that they can win tonight without him (not much of a gamble, I admit) in the hopes that he can go on Wednesday if they need a win.

The Wolves are trying to get to the end, hopefully without further injury. Andrew Wiggins had sore knees in the Golden State game according to Flip Saunders, which is not a surprise given the minutes and role he's played this season. He's currently 2nd in the league in minutes played, which is amazing for a rookie. The sore knees will hopefully serve as a warning that they can't keep extending him like this next season if they expect him to last.

If any of you are in Madison, Madison Dan and I are meeting at the Big 10 Pub on Regent Street (near Camp Randall) to watch the game.  Feel free to join us.

Expected lineups

Pelicans

Eric Gordon
Quincy Pondexter
Tyreke Evans
Anthony Davis
Omer Asik

Wolves

Zach LaVine
Kevin Martin 
Andrew Wiggins
Adreian Payne
Justin Hamilton

Link to The Bird Writes.

Enjoy. Chat. Go.