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Utah Jazz vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Keys to the Game

By Jared Woodcox

Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) attempts to pass around Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5), forward Trey Lyles (41) and center Rudy Gobert (27) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) attempts to pass around Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5), forward Trey Lyles (41) and center Rudy Gobert (27) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Match-up – Gordon Hayward and Andrew Wiggins

The last time the Jazz and Timberwolves met, the guy that really hurt Utah was the ultra-athletic Zach LaVine. However, unfortunately for Minnesota, in the earlier part of February LaVine suffered a torn ACL which will result in his missing the remainder of the season.

It was undoubtedly a tough break for a gifted young player and a rising Minnesota squad.

So particularly with LaVine out for this contest, the match-up that I’m most looking forward to is that of Gordon Hayward and Andrew Wiggins. The Jazz did an exceptional job on Wiggins the last time these two times faced off as he finished the night shooting just 6-of-19 from the field for 16 points.

That was well below his season average of 23.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting from the field. As Minnesota’s second-leading scorer behind Karl-Anthony Towns, there’s no doubting that he’s a key figure in their offense and that the Jazz will have to slow him down once again if they hope to win.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/836674846352273412

And the guy whose main task to do just that will be Gordon Hayward. Oddly enough, while Hayward along with his teammates have done a great job of slowing Wiggins down in both contests this season, Gordon hasn’t exactly been able to fill it up offensively against the Timberwolves’ young star. Hayward shot just 6-of-14 in the first meeting, then dropped to an even worse 4-of-13 in the second contest.

With neither player quite living up to their expectations either time they’ve faced one another, it’s very likely that whichever one can break out tonight will have an excellent chance of leading his squad to victory. Despite averaging 29.5 points in the first two contests following the All-Star break, Hayward unfortunately struggled to find his shot last night against OKC finishing 7-of-17 from the field with 19 points.

Therefore, it will be vital that he get it going once again tonight in a match-up that he’s struggled with and find a way to regain his hot touch against Andrew Wiggins and the Wolves.

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