Dec 2, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans ahead Trey Murphy III (25) shoots in opposition to Minnesota Timberwolves ahead Jaden McDaniels (3) throughout the first half at Smoothie King Heart. Necessary Credit score: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Photos Jaden McDaniels can breathe a sigh of aid.
The versatile ahead heard his title talked about in loads of rumors because the Minnesota Timberwolves explored the thought of including a star participant earlier than the commerce deadline.
Nonetheless, Giannis Antetokounmpo stayed put with the Milwaukee Bucks and McDaniels stayed put in Minneapolis, the place the Timberwolves will play the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday evening.
“It is arduous to dam out,” McDaniels stated earlier than Thursday’s commerce deadline. “It is in every single place you go in your telephone, you see one thing. I attempt. I have been via six deadlines, and I simply maintain it the identical approach each time.”
This time, McDaniels and the Timberwolves will welcome a brand new teammate.
Minnesota and a number of other different groups didn’t land the NBA’s largest prize in Antetokounmpo, however the Timberwolves added much-needed expertise and depth after they acquired Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls earlier than the deadline. In alternate, Minnesota parted with calmly used Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller together with 4 second-round picks.
Dosunmu, 26, averaged a career-high 15.0 factors together with 3.6 assists and three.0 rebounds in 45 video games for the Bulls this season. The fifth-year professional shoots 51.4% from the sphere and a career-best 45.1% from 3-point vary.
It isn’t sure whether or not Dosunmu will be part of his new workforce in time for Friday’s sport.
At any time when he arrives, he figures to return off the bench and play a distinguished position within the Timberwolves’ rotation. He averaged 26.4 minutes primarily in a reserve position with Chicago this season, in contrast with 9.3 minutes per sport for Dillingham with the Timberwolves.
Because the Timberwolves put together to welcome reinforcements, the Pelicans head to Minnesota with out a trusted veteran. New Orleans traded Jose Alvarado, 27, to the New York Knicks on Thursday in alternate for Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and money concerns.
Alvarado averaged 7.9 factors and three.1 assists in 41 video games this season and offered reliable protection. Terry averaged 3.5 factors and 1.3 assists in 34 video games for the Bulls.
New Orleans rests close to the underside of the Western Convention standings and plots how extra shedding may profit its future. The Pelicans have misplaced three video games in a row, together with a 141-137 time beyond regulation loss Wednesday at Milwaukee.
Pelicans interim coach James Borrego praised Trey Murphy III for his career-high 44-point efficiency, however stated his workforce wanted to do extra on the opposite finish of the courtroom to cease the skid. The Bucks hit 60.9% from the sphere, which featured 21 of 47 taking pictures (44.7%) from 3-point vary.
“It was our protection,” Borrego stated. “Not sufficient resistance. (Our) point-of-attack protection was too weak, too delicate. We have got to be higher (defensively).”
The Timberwolves are coming off a 128-126 street win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday evening. Minnesota has gained 5 of its previous six video games.
Anthony Edwards will look to remain scorching after scoring 30 factors on 11-for-23 taking pictures in opposition to the Raptors. He added eight rebounds, 5 assists and three steals.
That is the third of 4 conferences between the Timberwolves and Pelicans this season.
Minnesota gained the primary two video games because it held on for a 149-142 time beyond regulation win on Dec. 2 in New Orleans, then gained the rematch two days later with a 125-116 verdict in New Orleans.
–Discipline Stage Media
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