The Utah Jazz were hoping for better luck against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, or even a case of déjà vu in the form of a closer game. Instead, they were on the wrong end of a blowout.
Remember, the first matchup versus these pesky Wolves on October 20 was a three-point loss for the Jazz after they battled the whole night, proving they belong in the Northwest Division crown conversation. A month later, much has changed for the now 6-8 Jazz.
FINAL#MINatUTA pic.twitter.com/KpfsD0X8uh
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 14, 2017
After Thabo Sefolosha started for the injured Rudy Gobert on Saturday night, Jonas Jerebko got the nod against Minnesota. Donovan Mitchell continues to take the lead at shooting guard while Rodney Hood looks for his shot and his confidence in a bench role.
The high point for Utah came when a three-second violation in the lane gave Ricky Rubio a free throw and an early 1-0 lead for the Jazz. After that, Utah never led again. Minnesota went on a 15-3 run in the first six minutes, highlighted by Karl Anthony-Towns blocking Mitchell on one end and dunking on the other. Eventually, the T-Wolves took a 33-14 lead after the first quarter of play. Without Gobert down low, and Favors looking out of place on defense, Minnesota bigs Towns and Taj Gibson combined for 18 points in that first stanza, outscoring the entire Jazz team. Towns even made a little history:
COUNT ‘EM! #AllEyesNorth @KarlTowns joins Dwight Howard as the only two players in NBA history to collect 3000+ points and 2000+ rebounds before their 22nd birthdays. pic.twitter.com/SQGK3q08dD
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 14, 2017
The salt in the wound is the fact that Minnesota holds a 108.9 defensive rating, good for 27th best in the NBA. In simpler terms, they aren’t that good on defense. Yet, the Jazz shot 29 percent in the quarter, 0-for-6 from deep, and committed five turnovers. It wasn’t the start or the energy Jazz coach Quin Snyder was looking for.
The energy came out in bursts during the second quarter, where the Jazz held Minnesota without a field goal for close to four minutes and Hood even nailed back-to-back threes with a minute remaining before the half. Jeff Teague took whatever momentum the Jazz were building and extinguished it with his own three a second before the intermission, giving the Wolves a 57-42 halftime lead. The Jazz shot 5-for-19 from deep, 26 percent, while Minnesota was steady at 6-for-12 or 50 percent. Towns led the way with a near double-double after 24 minutes with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and a block and a steal for good measure, too.
The lead remained in 20-plus territory for most of the third quarter and start of the fourth, but Raul Neto came in to give the Jazz bursts of life and Alec Burks continued to knock down threes (53% for the season). Mitchell kept playing hard, even leading the Jazz in a run that cut the deficit from 26 to 13. Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau got a little nervous as the lead dwindled and put in his starters. Snyder didn’t flinch and let Neto, Mitchell, Royce O’Neale, Jerebko, and Ekpe Udoh close the game. That unit led a rally, played with passion, scrapped and battled until the closing ticks to eventually give the Jazz a 33-21 fourth court advantage.
It was just too little, too late as the Jazz still lost by double-digits, 109-98.
Joe Ingles came up empty in two of his most important categories: points and steals. He took four threes, missing all of them, and finished with a minus-24, the worst on the team. When you are already down a defensive anchor, it’s hard to make a dent when your long-armed, aggressive wing defender comes up empty, too.
Mitchell was tasked with taking on Jimmy Butler, who put up a smooth 21 points with 10 assists. However, Mitchell held his own on several occasions and made Butler take, and hit, some contested, tough jumpers. On the other end, Mitchell’s shot still falls only intermittently (3/9 from deep), but it looks smooth. He still led the Jazz in scoring, which he has done in four of the last six games, and made a concerted effort to get to the rim and get other guys involved. Play D on the opposing team’s best perimeter player, lead the team in scoring, be aggressive, and get everyone involved. For a rookie, check.
Donovan keeping us alive late…?#MACU3 #MINatUTA pic.twitter.com/V1oQKODZc6
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 14, 2017
??#MINatUTA pic.twitter.com/sYzg4fziJu
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 14, 2017
Derrick Favors actually has the longest arms in the world. https://t.co/gllsbCXO64 pic.twitter.com/RMOXEDYKsT
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) November 14, 2017
After a convincing 114-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, where Derrick Favors began his resurgence tour with a 24 point, 12 rebound outing, things were looking up. Perhaps the team could survive without Rudy, perhaps momentum was building. Favors regressed on Monday night, registering nine points and 10 boards, while Towns had his way in the post. It doesn’t get any easier for Favors as the Jazz next match up with Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks on Wednesday (5:30 mountain time tip). The Jazz begin a four-game east coast trip, perhaps discovering their offense along the way.
Every week during the regular season begins here at SCH with the Salt City Seven, a septet of recurring features that let us...Read More
Most NBA rosters are finalized now ahead of Tuesday’s season tip-off. The Utah Jazz made their final cuts, but it was...Read More
As the Jazz prepare to get their season underway, Mark Russell Pereira and Dan Clayton convene to explore the 15-man roster in a...Read More
The Jazz have made their three free agent signings official, and there’s a pattern to those deal structures that sends a...Read More