Overview
- Minnesota won the Dec. 2 meeting 149-142 in overtime as Anthony Edwards scored 44 and tied Kevin Love’s franchise mark with a sixth straight 30-point game.
- For the Dec. 4 game, the Pelicans ruled out Williamson (right adductor), Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole and Herb Jones, with Karlo Matkovic listed as questionable.
- Trey Murphy III was listed as questionable with a right elbow issue after posting 33 points and 15 rebounds in the previous matchup.
- The Timberwolves reported a light injury list, with Anthony Edwards available, Enrique Freeman cleared to play in a face mask and Rocco Zikarsky out on a two-way assignment.
- New Orleans entered the night 3–18 and on a four-game slide, as interim coach James Borrego described the stretch as a mental challenge for his group.