Timberwolves vs. Jazz | 7:00 PM, Target Center
Where To Watch: Fox Sports North
Where to Listen 830 WCCO
If Utah was in the Eastern Conference, the Jazz would be a half game out from the eighth seed and fighting for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for them, at 32-41, they sit in 11th place in the Western Conference.
This is a team with a nice core for the future, though. These wins late in the season could help build confidence going into next season.
Minnesota comes into this one on the tail of a back-to-back. Monday night’s game marks the start of a three-game home stand.
The Wolves sit at 16-57 overall, last in the Western Conference.
LAST MEETING
This is the final game of the four-game season series. Utah leads 2-1, but lost the last meeting against the Wolves in overtime at home. Minnesota won 106-104 in overtime, thanks to two Zach LaVine three pointers at the end of regulation to prolong the game five minutes.
LaVine led the way for Minnesota with 27 points. Fellow rookie Andrew Wiggins added 22 points and seven rebounds. Chase Budinger and Sean Kilpatrick were Minnesota’s only reserves and they played well, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively. Gorgui Dieng finished with 11 points while Lorenzo Brown added 10.
Utah’s frontline was scary in this one. Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert combined for 37 points, 29 rebounds and eight blocks. Joe Ingles scored a career-high 18 points, while Trey Burke added 16. Rookie Elijah Millsap scored 13 points in 30 minutes.
THIS WEEK’S RESULTS
Minnesota has lost three straight. The last coming on Sunday night in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The Wolves fell 110-88 despite 20 points and six rebounds from Wiggins. LaVine added 17, but shot just 6-of-16 from the field. Big man Adreian Payne had his team’s only double-double, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Hamilton and Budinger had 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.
After losing four straight, Utah finally won at home on Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 94-89. Burke came off the bench and led Utah with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Gobert added 13 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Gordon Hayward and Trevor Booker scored 17 and 12 points, respectively. This win was especially impressive being Utah was without Favors.
KEY MATCHUP: ANDREW WIGGINS VS. GORDON HAYWARD[[{"fid":"35859","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"style":"float: right;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Wiggins will once again be in charge of matching up against the opposing team’s best offensive player.
That is former Butler star Gordon Hayward. Hayward has bounced back after a tough 2013-14 season and is averaging a career-high 19.6 points per game while shooting 44.9 percent from the field. He’s also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists and is a very good all-around player. In two games against Wiggins and the Wolves this season, Hayward is averaging 17.5 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Wiggins has broken through the rookie wall and is playing some of his best ball as of late. He’s averaging 16.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the season and in the month of March is averaging 18 points and 4.7 rebounds. He’s scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games.
In two games against Utah, Wiggins is averaging 21 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Jazz: Alec Burks (shoulder) and Patrick Christopher (knee) are out. Derrick Favors (back) is questionable.
Wolves: Gorgui Dieng (facial contusion), Kevin Martin (hamstring) and Ricky Rubio (ankle) are questionable. Gary Neal (ankle), Kevin Garnett (knee) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) are doubtful. Shabazz Muhammad (finger) is out.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Jazz: PG – Exum, SG – Hood, SF – Hayward, PF – Booker, C - Gobert
Wolves: PG – Brown, SG – LaVine, SF - Wiggins, PF – Payne, C – Dieng