The Wolves came into tonight’s matchup with New Orleans 0-10 on the year when trying to get above .500.
With the Pelicans missing their best player, Anthony Davis (finger), Minnesota moved to the plus-side of even for the first time since Nov. 23, defeating New Orleans 88-77 and breaking their two-month curse of .500.
It wasn’t the most efficient offensive night for Kevin Love, hitting on just 11 of his 26 shots, but he still shouldered most of the offensive load, scoring 30 points.
The night was Minnesota’s first without center Nikola Pekovic, who is out indefinitely with ankle bursitis, and Ronny Turiaf started in his place, playing 26 minutes and grabbing eight rebounds.
Pekovic’ injury also opens the door for Luc Mbah a Moute, who had played more than six minutes just three times this month entering Wednesday.
Mbah a Moute played 23 tonight, though his production was minimal, scoring just three points. Rookie Gorgui Dieng also saw the floor, playing six minutes after seeing only garbage time most of January.
Without Davis, only threePelicans reached double-figures, none topping 18 points, and New Orleans shot just 35 percent from the field and went 2 of 21 from deep.
Now that the Wolves have moved above .500, they look to keep the momentum going Friday against Memphis, a 7 p.m. tap from Target Center.
