Wolves-New Orleans game preview

Preview: The Pelicans have won three consecutive games and five of the past seven after Tuesday's win at Atlanta after starting the season 0-8. … The Wolves didn't practice at Target Center on Tuesday after Monday's 99-93 home loss to Boston. Instead, they flew to New Orleans three hours earlier than they usually travel and held an optional shooting session after they blew a 13-point lead in a fourth-quarter collapse. …The teams split the four-game series last year. Their Feb. 27 victory in New Orleans ended the Wolves' seven-game losing streak against the Pelicans. It was also their first victory there since Dec. 14, 2012.

Players to watch: Wolves forward Andrew Wiggins has scored 21 points on 7-for-29 shooting – that's 24.1 percent – and is 0-for-8 on three-point shots in the past two games after scoring 47, 29 and 35 points while shooting 58.5 percent from the field and 47 percent on three-pointers in the three previous games. "I thought some of those shots were really good shots that didn't go down," Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. "As long as he shoots them well, I don't have a problem with them."… Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who got hurt Tuesday night but came back into the game, leads the league in scoring (31.7 ppg) and blocked shots (3.0 per), is sixth in rebounding (11.3) and 14th in steals (1.8). … The Pelicans won their first two games of point guard Jrue Holiday's return. He averaged 21.5 points and eight assists in his first two games back from a leave of absence while his wife, Lauren, recovered from surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Injuries: Wolves C Nikola Pekovic is out for the season because of recurring pain in his right ankle. Pelicans G Tyreke Evans (knee) and F/G Quincy Pondexter (knee) and F Cheick Diallo (D-League assignment) were listed as out for Tuesday's game at Atlanta.

JERRY ZGODA