STILL with the New Orleans Pelicans, forward Anthony Davis dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves during their NBA game on Friday. AP

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis didn’t need long to win back the crowd after being booed during his pregame introduction and the first few chances he had to handle the ball.

But the Pelicans sought to close out a tight game without Davis on the court anyway — and narrowly pulled it off.

Playing for first time since asking to be traded, Davis had 32 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-117, on Friday night (Saturday in Manila).

Davis said hearing boos surprised him a bit and was “definitely awkward,” but added, “That’s life, man. Some people aren’t going to like it. I worry about playing basketball.”

“I just love the game, love playing,” Davis continued. And as he glanced around the locker room, he added, “Me and all these guys in here have a special relationship. And so obviously I want to be on the floor with them. They wanted me on the floor. And it was as simple as that.

“The other stuff, the outside noise, Twitter rants, it’s all good,” Davis said. “It doesn’t bother me. I want to play and being able to go out there and to be able to play the game I love for 25 minutes, it was fun.”

Jrue Holiday had 27 points and nine assists and Kenrich Williams had 19 points — and they led the Pelicans’ offense in the fourth quarter, when Davis was kept on the bench despite the teams being separated by as little as one basket several times in the waning minutes.

Gentry said he limited Davis’ minutes because Davis had not played since spraining his left index finger on 18 January.

“I was not going to have him — first game back — play 38, 40 minutes,” Gentry said. “We had talked about playing between 22 and 25 minutes. That’s why he didn’t go back in the game. I thought he played well the minutes that he was in there and did a great job. He was typical Anthony.”

Instead of playing Davis, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry sent in Julius Randle, who came through with a pair of inside baskets and clutch free throws in the final minutes.

“I guess he’s giving a lot of people a chance to finish out games and be in important positions,” Holiday said. “Overall, it was a good win.”