Timberwolves at Jazz
THE STORY: The Minnesota Timberwolves will be doing plenty of traveling over the next week and a half as they resume their seven-game road trip Thursday in Utah. Minnesota opened the trek by prevailing for the first time since losing rookie point guard Ricky Rubio for the season, defeating Phoenix 127-124. Minnesota sits in ninth in the Western Conference and is battling Utah in the race for a spot in the playoffs. The Jazz and T-Wolves have split their last four meetings.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Root Sports, NBA TV
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (22-21): If Kevin Love thought he was sore before Rubio went down, the fourth-year forward must be reaching for the Tylenol after putting Minnesota on his back Monday night. Love reached the 30-point mark for the second straight night after sitting out the loss to Los Angeles over the weekend. Love set a franchise record with his 15th 30-point performance of the season.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (20-22): Utah missed out on a chance to pull to .500 on the year with a loss to Phoenix on Wednesday. The Jazz blew a 13-point lead for their third loss in the past four games – the lone win coming inside EnergySolutions Arena. The trade deadline looms over Utah with starters Raja Bell and Josh Howard, along with sixth man C.J. Miles, mentioned in trade rumors. Veteran guard Jamaal Tinsley has also been talked about in possible deals.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Love became the T-Wolves’ second all-time rebounder Monday. His 3,035 boards trail Kevin Garnett’s tally of 10,542 rebounds over his 12 seasons in Minnesota.
2. Utah center Al Jefferson hit the first 3-pointer of his seven-year career during his 33-point performance Monday. He’s 1 for 24 from beyond the arc for his career.
3. T-Wolves forward Michael Beasley is questionable with a toe injury after leaving Monday’s game with 15 points in just over 15 minutes of action.