Although they were supposed to take another step forward, the injury-ravaged New Orleans Pelicans are mercifully closing out a highly disappointing season.
Expectations weren't nearly as high for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the emergence of their young talent has them feeling good about the future.
As Karl-Anthony Towns looks to put an emphatic stamp on his bid for the Rookie of the Year award, the Timberwolves try to finish with a fourth victory in five games when they host the severely short-handed Pelicans on Wednesday night.
With a potential MVP candidate in Anthony Davis, a solid roster around him and Alvin Gentry taking over as coach after helping Golden State win the NBA title as associate coach, the Pelicans were expected by many prognosticators to return to the playoffs after last season's first-round exit.