Jazz 119, Timberwolves 104
C.J. Miles scored a career-best 40 points and Al Jefferson had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Utah Jazz cruised to a 119-104 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Miles made 14-of-18 shots and hit 6-of-7 3-pointers to help Utah (36-33) move within 1 1/2 games of eighth-place Memphis in the race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.
Kevin Love had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota (17-52). Love had a streak of 53 consecutive double-doubles end Sunday against Golden State in what was the longest such stretch since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
Miles had 25 first-half points to help the Jazz build a 71-50 halftime lead. He had 18 points in the opening quarter, including Utah’s final 13 points of the period.
Miles reached 40 points on a 21-foot jumper with 2:35 remaining. His six 3-pointers were one shy of a career-high that he set earlier this season against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Michael Beasley and Luke Ridnour scored 16 points each for the Timberwolves.