In his first game in months, Zion Williamson hit a free throw early in the third frame to put the Pelicans up eight points Tuesday in New Orleans, as part of an early second-half run in which the Pelicans jumped on the Wolves via forced turnovers and easy buckets.

Minnesota was in trouble.

“We needed to wake up, get back in the game, and we have to expect more of ourselves sometimes in those moments,” Wolves coach Chris Finch told reporters. “Guys did a great job responding.”

Minnesota got itself out of a bind by the thing it’s so frequently been able to rely on for the past two years — its defense.

Minnesota surrendered just 16 points over the following 12-plus minutes to pull away en route to a 104-97 victory on the second half of a back to back.

“This was a difficult back to back – play, fly,” Finch told reporters. “We survived our opening poor play opening the third, responded well to that. We guarded a lot better in the second half as the game went along.”

The Wolves held New Orleans to just 37 percent shooting, including 29 percent from distance.

Anthony Edwards’ return to offensive form was the key cog in Minnesota’s victory Monday over the Los Angeles Clippers. On Tuesday, a massive reason for victory was Rudy Gobert looking more like his dominant defensive self. He controlled the interior.

“He was good. We knew we needed him to be big with Zion (Williamson) being in the game,” Finch said. “We knew we were going to get a lot of pressure on the rim, and he was great stepping up and being a presence.”

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year finished with 14 rebounds and six blocks, while the Pelicans shot just 46 percent in the paint.

“Just being a presence, whether you block it or you don’t, just being there for my teammates,” Gobert said in his postgame, on-court television interview. “Tonight we did a great job being physical and protecting the paint.”

Minnesota (19-17) had to contain Williamson, who returned to the floor for the first time after a 27-game absence due to injury. The dynamic forward was immediately dominant. He finished with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Dejounte Murray added 29 points. But all other Pelicans combined to shoot 14 for 59 from the floor. While the Pelicans (7-30) got Williamson back, they’re still rather inept offensively sans sharpshooter Trey Murphy.

Edwards scored 32 points, setting a new team record with 122 points over a three-game span. Naz Reid had a double double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Minnesota got sloppy down the stretch, with poor shot selection and mind numbing turnovers that allowed New Orleans to trim its deficit to three in the closing minute, but the Wolves hung on. They’ll next travel to Orlando to play the Magic on Thursday.

“They made a couple runs,” Gobert said, “but then we were able to refocus and do what we were supposed to do.”

Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves blocks a shot from CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on Jan. 07, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)