NOP 119, MIN 115: Edwards Explodes for 58 ESPN FP
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician ยท Boston Celtics fan
Pelicans Steal One in Minny: Saddiq Bey Goes Nuclear, Bones Hyland Reminds Everyone He Exists
The Pelicans just pulled off a 119-115 road win in Minnesota, and if you had Saddiq Bey in your lineup, you're probably still checking your phone to make sure that stat line is real. Let's break down who actually showed up and what it means for your roster going forward.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | 58.0 | 52.0 | 35/5/4 | 29.8/5.3/3.7 | +5.2 |
| Saddiq Bey | 53.0 | 50.3 | 30/9/5 | 16.7/5.8/2.5 | +13.3 |
| Rudy Gobert | 48.0 | 49.2 | 12/16/2 | 10.7/11.4/1.7 | +1.3 |
| Julius Randle | 50.0 | 47.1 | 24/8/7 | 22.2/6.9/5.4 | +1.8 |
| Trey Murphy III | 49.0 | 40.7 | 26/6/5 | 22.2/5.8/3.7 | +3.8 |
| Derik Queen | 39.0 | 34.1 | 17/8/3 | 12.3/7.3/4.3 | +4.7 |
| Zion Williamson | 36.0 | 32.3 | 29/4/1 | 21.6/6.2/3.4 | +7.4 |
| Bones Hyland | 34.0 | 28.6 | 20/3/2 | 7.2/1.7/2.6 | +12.8 |
| Naz Reid | 22.0 | 22.1 | 7/3/3 | 14.5/6.4/2.5 | -7.5 |
| Bryce McGowens | 27.0 | 21.2 | 11/1/4 | 7.7/2.0/1.4 | +3.3 |
The Bey Explosion Was Real
Saddiq Bey dropped 50.3 Yahoo fantasy points on you, and that's not a typo. The dude went 10-21 from the field with 7-7 from the line, adding 30 points, 9 boards, and 5 assists in 34 minutes. But here's the thing, he was a +13.3 from his season average. That's not just a good game, that's him playing like a different version of himself.
The question is whether this is sustainable. Bey's been hovering around 16.7 points a night this season, so 30 is him getting hot and maybe seeing a slightly bigger role. In a close game like this, he got the usage. Don't overreact and trade for him like he's become a 30-point-a-night guy, but also don't ignore what you saw. If he maintains 22-24 points per night with this efficiency, you've got a solid mid-tier contributor.
Zion With the Efficient Takeover
Zion Williamson had one of those performances where he literally couldn't miss. 11-13 from the field with 29 points in just 31 minutes. Yahoo had him at 32.3 FP, and he was +7.4 from his season average. That's elite efficiency in a close game where the Pelicans needed him.
Here's what matters for your team: Zion's only pulling 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists on average, so his ceiling is capped by volume. But on nights when he gets the green light like this, he's a league winner. The problem is predicting when those nights happen. He plays limited minutes (31 last night), which is always a question mark. Keep him in if you have him, but don't expect 29 every night.
The Edwards Problem: He Went Off and You Still Lost
Anthony Edwards had 52 Yahoo FP with 35 points on solid efficiency (11-22 FG, 5 threes, 8-9 from the line). That's a +5.2 from his season average, and it wasn't enough. The Timberwolves lost, and that's all that matters for their playoff push. For fantasy purposes though, Ant delivered exactly what you want from a guy you're likely paying up for in your league.
The issue is his supporting cast didn't show up the way they needed to. Julius Randle gave you 47.1 Yahoo FP (24/8/7), which is perfectly fine, but Rudy Gobert (49.2 FP) and Bones Hyland (28.6 FP) were the only other guys hitting. That's not a recipe for beating New Orleans on the road.
Bones Hyland Is Suddenly Interesting
Look, Bones Hyland barely cracks rotations most nights (7.2 PPG average), but he went 6-11 from the field with 4 threes in 30 minutes for 28.6 Yahoo FP. That's a +12.8 from his average, which is basically him playing the game of his life.
This is a classic case of "don't read too much into one game." Hyland's got a skill set, but he's not getting consistent 30 minutes. That was probably a unique matchup situation. Don't go picking him off waivers expecting a miracle, but if he's already rostered somewhere and your league mate drops him after this explosion, don't overpay to get him back either.
The Reid Letdown
Naz Reid was supposed to be a factor for Minnesota off the bench, but he pulled up lame with 7 points on 3-9 shooting. That's a -7.5 from his season average of 14.5 PPG. When a guy who typically gives you 14 and change shows up with 7, that's a problem. Reid's still a hold if you have him, but that's the kind of performance that costs you a matchup in a close week.
The Gobert Conundrum
Rudy Gobert is one of the best defensive anchors in basketball, and he just got All-Defensive First Team honors for 2024-25. Last night he grabbed 16 rebounds (a +4.6 from average) with decent defense. He's giving you 49.2 Yahoo FP consistently, and there's nothing flashy about it. That's 12 points, 16 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks. It's not exciting, but it's what you pay for with a guy like Rudy. The only issue is when he gets in foul trouble, and we didn't see that last night.
What This Means for Your Lineup
The Pelicans won a road game they maybe shouldn't have, and that's good for their playoff positioning. For your fantasy team, Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson are the names to monitor going forward. If Bey is in your waiver pool and available in 10-12 team leagues, add him. He just proved he can go nuclear, even if it's not every night.
On the Timberwolves side, this is a gut check. Edwards carried them hard and it wasn't enough. Julius Randle has been solid all year and delivered again. If you're buying low on anyone from Minnesota after this loss, it's worth looking at Naz Reid if his owner panic-drops him. One bad game doesn't erase a 14-point season average.
The Pelicans are figuring something out offensively. Don't panic if you own Wolves guys, but keep an eye on New Orleans going forward. This wasn't a fluke.