LaMelo Ball and the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking like a match made in heaven. 

Ball is proving to be exactly what the Wolves have been missing — especially in a scenario like the one they're currently in with Anthony Edwards sidelined for the foreseeable future. 

LaMelo continued to return on the Timberwolves' investment in Minnesota's 115-109 road win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday — prompting head coach Chris Finch to run out of superlatives for him postgame. 

"He's just a magical player," Finch said. "He's so much fun to play with, and he creates so much great offense for his teammates. But I really am proud of the way he's competing at the other end of the floor." 

Sometimes, things are just meant to be. And Ball and the Timberwolves look like they were meant to be together. 

Ball got his NBA career off to a fine start as a Charlotte Hornet, but the setup around him on the East Coast put a hard ceiling on his development. He still went on to turn in a career year last season, but it was beginning to feel more and more like a change of scenery was needed for him to take the next step. 

Coincidentally, despite experiencing some success out West, Edwards was in a similar position. The Timberwolves have reached the Conference Finals twice in the last three years but haven't been able to get over the hump. 

Well, why not put those two together and see if they can make each other's lives easier? 

The duo only got to play four games together (3-1) before Edwards went down with a knee injury. However, they showed enough promise to make fans in Minnesota feel very optimistic about their championship aspirations. 

The bigger development here, however, is what the Timberwolves are doing without Edwards, as they have now won three straight and sit at 7-3 heading into an eight-game homestand. 

Is it really shocking that an elite point guard is making a team filled with talent really good, even without their best player?

Ball was unable to make a poor Hornets a playoff-caliber team by himself. Put him on a team where his talents can be maximized, though, and you get what the Timberwolves are doing right now. 

Ball's 22 points and eight assists in 35 minutes against the Pelicans produced a team-high plus-minus of +23 — nine more than the next highest (Jonathan Kuminga +14). 

Ball is now in a situation where he doesn't have to be the leading scorer and primary creator every game. He can pick his spots, read defenses, and do whatever is necessary to put his teammates in positions to be successful. 

He is one of those point guards who unequivocally makes those around him better, and the Timberwolves are living proof of that. 

Ayo Dosunmu continued his ascension as a scorer in New Orleans, leading Minnesota with 26 points. Jaden McDaniels added 23 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three stocks in 40 minutes. Kuminga posted 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. 

You wouldn't be faulted for having thought that the Timberwolves would experience some sort of drop-off without Edwards. That would have been the logical outcome. 

Now, though, it might be time to consider whether Ball is the missing piece that could guide Minnesota to the Finals when Edwards returns.