Timberwolves reserves shine in win over Pelicans

The Minnesota Timberwolves closed the regular season with a 132-126 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night in Minneapolis, leaning on reserves and young players after already locking up the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.

Rookie big man Joan Beringer led Minnesota with 24 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Timberwolves finish the regular season at 49-33.

Terrence Shannon Jr. added 26 points for Minnesota, while Zyon Pullin scored 19 points off the bench.

Joe Ingles made the most of a rare start, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.

Jeremiah Fears paced New Orleans with 36 points on 12-for-29 shooting in a strong offensive effort for the visitors.

Derik Queen backed him with 30 points and 22 rebounds, and Micah Peavy contributed 21 points for the Pelicans, who ended the season at 26-56.

Minnesota entered the game with its playoff position already secured, and the result later confirmed a first-round matchup with the No. 3-seeded Denver Nuggets, who clinched their spot by defeating the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The Timberwolves built a comfortable cushion late in the game before fending off a Pelicans rally in the closing minutes.

Beringer made two free throws to give Minnesota a 124-114 lead with 1:21 remaining.

Fears answered with a three-point play to cut the deficit to seven, 124-117, with 1:15 left.

Queen then made a layup on New Orleans’ next possession to bring the Pelicans within 125-119 with 55.2 seconds to go.

Minnesota held on from there, with Shannon converting 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute to help seal the six-point victory.

The Timberwolves took control early and carried a 73-59 lead into halftime.

Julian Phillips added a highlight in the closing moments of the second quarter when he finished an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Jaylen Clark.

Both teams were short-handed in the regular-season finale, a common approach for clubs managing workloads ahead of the postseason or the offseason.

Minnesota rested top scorer Anthony Edwards, who had been dealing with right knee inflammation in the final weeks of the regular season.

The Timberwolves also played without Jaden McDaniels because of left knee injury maintenance, Rudy Gobert for rest, Julius Randle because of right hand injury maintenance, Naz Reid because of right shoulder injury maintenance, and Ayo Dosunmu because of right calf injury maintenance.

New Orleans rested Herbert Jones and Saddiq Bey.

The Pelicans were also without veteran big man Zion Williamson, who missed the finale because of right knee injury management.

For Minnesota, the game served as both a tune-up for the playoffs and a showcase for the team’s depth, with reserves carrying the offense in the regular-season sendoff at Target Center.