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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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Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) dribbles past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) dribbles past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Prediction – Jazz 104, Timberwolves 94

Although last night’s loss to the Thunder was more than a bit disappointing and while Utah will be hosting the Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back following a tough three-game road trip, given the fact that Minnesota has been awful on the road, continues to struggle to find consistency and will suffer from several mismatches against Utah, I’m pinning the Jazz as comfortable winners in this one.

We saw Utah earn two such wins against the Bucks and Wizards last week and given that the Jazz will be back on their home court for this contest against a foe less daunting than those two, I’m confident in sticking with my prediction from my week preview piece and projecting a 104-94 Jazz win over the the Timberwolves.

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Following tonight’s game, the Jazz will host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, travel to Sacramento for a Sunday matinee then turn around and host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. From there, however, Utah will go on a daunting stretch that will see them play seven playoff teams in a row with six of those seven coming on the road.

It will be a stretch that will no doubt test the will and mettle of this Jazz team and could help them either solidify themselves as legitimate Western Conference contenders or find themselves quickly sliding down the standings behind teams they have struggled to beat this season.

With that being the case, it will be vital that the Jazz garner some confidence and momentum by taking care of business against those very beatable teams, beginning with tonight’s contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com and ESPN.com

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