Randle scores 20 points and Timberwolves stomp Pelicans 134-93 to keep pace in Western Conference

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves avoided losing to one of the Western Conference's worst teams for the second time in three days with a 134-93 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards each scored 17 points, and Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which moved back within a game of Golden State for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with 10 games left in the regular season.

The Timberwolves' 41-point margin of victory was their largest this season.

Edwards also finished with five assists and three rebounds after a brief injury scare in the third quarter. The three-time All-Star went to the locker room holding his right thigh, but returned later in the period.

With his wife and three children in attendance, Minnesota's Joe Ingles made his first start since Jan. 30, 2022, and went scoreless with an assist in just over six minutes. Ingles' son Jacob, who has autism, recently reached the milestone of viewing an entire game in person. Finch gave Ingles the start so Jacob could watch his father play.

C.J. McCollum led the Pelicans with 15 points, and Bruce Brown scored 14.

Pelicans: Entering Friday with the Western Conference's second-worst record, New Orleans played without star forward Zion Williamson because of a bruised lower back.

Timberwolves: During its ascent to being a Western Conference contender in recent years, Minnesota has sometimes underperformed against teams well below it in the standings. That was the case in a 119-115 loss at home Wednesday, but the Wolves outscored New Orleans 72-45 in the second half Friday night.

McDaniels took a baseline pass from Mike Conley and dunked straight over Pelicans rim protector Yves Missi to give Minnesota an 80-59 advantage midway through the third quarter.

The Pelicans are the NBA's No. 5 team in second-chance points with 15.8 per game, but Minnesota outscored them 20-4 in that category Friday.

The Pelicans head to Detroit on Sunday, and the Timberwolves play Monday at Indiana.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado reacts after missing a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

CORRECTS TO FIRST HALF NOT SECOND HALF - New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) looks to pass the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and center Rudy Gobert (27) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Keion Brooks Jr. (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, left, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) celebrates with guard Terrence Shannon Jr. , left, after a dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark (22) goes up for a dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, left, shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9), left, and New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) battle for possession during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

CORRECTS TO FIRST HALF NOT SECOND HALF - Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — At least seven people were killed after Russia launched a barrage of drones across Ukraine overnight on Sunday, according to local Ukrainian officials and emergency services.

The attack on the Ukrainian capital came ahead of ceasefire negotiations in Saudi Arabia in which Ukraine and Russia are expected to hold indirect U.S.-mediated talks on Monday to discuss a pause in long-range attacks targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.

The Ukrainian delegation is expected to meet with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia a day ahead of the indirect talks, Ukrainian President Voldoymyr Zelenskyy said. Ukraine is planning to send technical teams to discuss the details of the partial ceasefire.

Russia launched 147 drones across Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 97 and 25 others didn't reach targets due to Ukrainian countermeasures. The attacks struck the Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa and Donetsk regions, as well as the capital, Kyiv.

Three people, including a 5-year-old child, were killed and 10 others were injured in a drone attack on Kyiv, the city’s military administration said. Extended sounds of explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of the night as the air raid blared for over five hours. Russian drones and debris from shot-down drones, which were flying at lower altitudes to evade air defenses, fell on residential buildings.

Elsewhere, four people were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Donetsk region, regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin said, including three who died in a strike on the front-line Ukrainian town of Dobropillya.

In a statement on social media, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said attacks such as the one in Kyiv were a daily occurrence for Ukraine.

“This week alone, more than 1,580 guided aerial bombs, almost 1,100 strike drones and 15 missiles of various types were used against our people,” he said. “New solutions are needed, with new pressure on Moscow to stop both these strikes and this war.”

Also on Sunday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 29 over the region of Rostov and 20 more over southwestern Astrakhan. In Rostov, one person was killed and a car caught fire due to the Ukrainian drone attack, according to the area’s temporary governor, Yuri Slyusar.

A woman also died in the Russian border village of Novostroyevka-Pervaya in the Belgorod region when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in which she was traveling.

The driver, the woman’s daughter, was also seriously injured in the attack, said local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov.

A resident cleans up the damaged apartment in a multi-storey house after Russia's night drone attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Residents clean up the damaged apartment in a multi-storey house after Russia's night drone attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Residents clean up the damaged apartment in a multi-storey house after Russia's night drone attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A resident watches as his neighbour cleans up the damaged apartment in a multi-storey house after a Russian night drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A resident watches as his neighbour cleans up the damaged apartment in a multi-storey house after a Russia's night drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A resident cleans up the damaged apartment in a multi-storey house after a Russia's night drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire after a drone hit an apartment in a multi-storey building during Russia's drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in near Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)