Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves, currently fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 27-16, are set to face off against the struggling Utah Jazz, who sit in 13th place with a 14-29 record. This matchup takes place in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EST, with the Timberwolves favored by 10.5 points according to the latest odds from BetMGM Sportsbook, and an over/under of 245.5 points set for the game.
Recent Performance
The Timberwolves recently endured a narrow 126-123 defeat against the San Antonio Spurs, despite a remarkable performance from Anthony Edwards, who scored an astonishing 55 points. Edwards has been a standout for Minnesota this season, averaging 25.2 points per game, along with 3.7 rebounds over the past 10 games. Underlining the Timberwolves’ competitive strength, they have achieved a 4-4 record within their division and rank fifth in the Western Conference, particularly excelling in defensive rebounds with an average of 33.4 per game, aided by the efforts of Rudy Gobert, who pulls down 11.4 rebounds a game.
Conversely, the Utah Jazz have struggled this season, facing an 0-8 record in divisional matchups and only managing a 6-19 mark against opponents with winning records. The Jazz have averaged 119.1 points per game, which is notable as it exceeds the 114.7 points the Timberwolves typically allow their opponents to score. In their prior two encounters this season, the Timberwolves emerged victorious, including their last meeting on November 11, where they won 120-113, propelled by Edwards’ 35-point contribution.
Key Players
Keyonte George has been a bright spot for Utah, averaging 24 points and 6.8 assists, alongside Brice Sensabaugh, who has averaged 17.5 points over his last ten games.
In terms of recent performance, the Jazz have struggled, with a 2-8 record in their last 10 games, averaging 116.8 points per outing but allowing their opponents to score 129.8 points. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, with a 6-4 record in the same span, have been more effective, averaging 122.6 points per game and shooting at a 51% rate from the field.
Injury Concerns
Injury concerns loom for both teams, with Utah’s Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh listed as day-to-day due to illness, alongside Georges Niang, while Walker Kessler is sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury. From the Timberwolves’ side, Terrence Shannon Jr. is out with a foot injury, and Naz Reid is listed as day-to-day due to a shoulder issue.
This game presents an intriguing test for both teams in their respective quests for playoff positioning and team resilience.
