The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up their third straight victory on Friday, knocking off the New Orleans Pelicans, 117-107. The win snapped a four-game win streak for the Pelicans and moved the Timberwolves to 2-0 in NBA Cup play.

The Timberwolves were led by Ayo Dosunmu, who scored 26 points and knocked down four threes. LaMelo Ball had 22 points to go along with eight assists. Jaden McDaniels had 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Trey Lyles only scored five points, but all five points were in the fourth quarter, and he led the team with 13 rebounds.

“He played a hell of a game. He didn’t get it going early. He battled through adversity. I was telling him, ‘Don’t worry if the shots are falling. Each and every possession, we’re going to need you.’ He got a big tip dunk and another big dunk. He played great down the stretch. We won the game. Nothing else matters,” Dosunmu said after the game when speaking on Lyles’ performance.

Lyles played 29 minutes, seeing extra time in the front court after Joan Beringer had to leave the game due to a nasal fracture.

With Beringer having to leave the game, Lyles not only had to do more offensively, but he had to step up defensively as well.

The offense wasn’t there through three quarters as he went 0-for-4 from the field and 0-for-3 from three.

Lyles’ first basket came with 10:31 left in the fourth quarter and the game knotted at 81. After a missed three by Jaylen Clark, Lyles got position and got a tip dunk to put the Timberwolves up 83-81.

He didn’t score again until 3:55 left in the fourth, driving to the rim and finishing with a dunk off an assist by Dosunmu. That bucket put the Timberwolves up 102-94. He did knock down one of two free throws with 24 seconds remaining to put the Timberwolves up nine to further ice the game.

On the defensive end, the Pelicans targeted Lyles, and though they shot 54% when guarded by Lyles for a total of 19 points, they also committed four turnovers, with Lyles coming up with three steals.

His biggest contribution was on the boards, where he 13 rebounds, including four on the offensive end. His ability to end possessions and extend them on the other end led the Timberwolves to 20 second-chance points compared to only nine for the Pelicans.