Utah Jazz at T-Wolves: Rubio puts exclamation point on emphatic win

The Utah Jazz demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-97 in a pivotal game for playoff seeding, moving them into the No. 6 spot in the West.

After some dicey wins and frustrating losses, the Utah Jazz were in need of a dominating effort to regain some lost momentum. They gave us exactly this against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

The team played phenomenal defense and team basketball with 29 assists. And with the win, this Jazz team continues to have a ton of fun.

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/980623261686841344

Despite stellar defense on Karl-Anthony Towns from Derrick Favors (and some help from Rudy Gobert), the star of the game was Ricky Rubio, playing against his former team.

Ricky Rubio goes full Inigo Montoya

Ousted from Minnesota last summer to make room for Jeff Teague, Ricky “Pass-First Point Guard” Rubio put on a 3-point shooting clinic in a monumental win over the division rival Timberwolves.

Rubio, known throughout his career for his below-average shooting, has made huge strides in Quin Snyder’s offensive scheme in Utah. Since the All-Star Break, Rubio is shooting exactly 40 percent from the 3-point line.

In the win over the ‘Wolves, Rubio made 5-of-6 from the 3-point line and was all-smiles throughout the game. He seemingly couldn’t miss and surely had Minnesota fans scratching their heads and wondering why he could never shoot this way for them.

The Ex-um Factor

Dante Exum also deserves a lot of credit for his contributions to the win. Bench play has been somewhat of an Achilles Heel for the Jazz as of late, but the Exum’s return seems to have put a stopper on that.

If you want to get really crazy, check out this small-sample-size-theater Twitter thread from Andy Bailey.

Exum has truly been ballin’ out and showing many why he was the fifth overall pick. Seriously, I’m giddy thinking about both his and the team’s future. Besides getting into the lane AT WILL with his speed-demon quickness and first step, he’s also been showing 3-point-ability along with a passing vision to rival the best of the Aussies-with-vision (Joe Ingles, anyone?)

Exum has also previously shown that he and Gobert have some chemistry, but if you needed a reminder, this was a fun play —

Overall, the win was good; the team needed this. And Utah’s hopes at home-court advantage in the first round are still alive (if the Spurs ever lose another game). At the very least, it means the Jazz may still yet avoid the Rockets or Warriors in the first round.

PS: What kind of game is this when the Jazz win decisively, Donovan Mitchell scores 20-plus and he’s still only a footnote?

The Jazz are back in action on Tuesday night against the LA Lakers.