Jazz at Timberwolves
THE STORY: The Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz each sit one game below .500. Only one of them can go into the All-Star break even. The Timberwolves won three straight to reach .500 but were edged 103-101 in overtime at Denver on Monday. The Jazz were once one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference but are now on the verge of falling alone into the Northwest Division basement. Utah is 3-9 in February and has allowed an average of 100.8 points over that span.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest Plus (Jazz), FS North (Timberwolves)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (15-16): Utah beat Minnesota 108-98 on Jan. 21, pushing its record to 10-5. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson combined for 44 points and 21 rebounds in that one and C.J. Miles poured in 18 points off the bench. Things have fallen off quite a bit since. Millsap and Jefferson have been consistent performers in the frontcourt but the defense has been a problem. The Jazz’s only win in the last five games came at home to the lowly Washington Wizards, who still managed to put up 100 points in the 114-100 decision.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (16-17): Kevin Love has only had two games this season in which he did not record a double-double. One was a 15-point, eight-rebound performance at Utah, in which he shot 5 for 21 from the floor and 1 for 7 from 3-point range. Love had another off night on Monday, shooting 7 for 23, as Minnesota had its winning streak snapped. The Timberwolves shot 36 percent and were outrebounded for one of the few times, 57-50 at Denver. Minnesota has not been more than one game over .500 at any point this season and head West for a four-game road trip immediately following the All-Star break.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Utah has taken six of the last seven meetings.
2. Jazz guard Raja Bell (adductor) missed Monday’s game and will be a game-time decision Wednesday.
3. Love has averaged 15.6 points and 11.4 rebounds in 13 career games against Utah.