For the first time in fourteen years the Utah Jazz have swept the season series against their division rival Utah Jazz. The TWolves had a chance to play spolier in this one as a Jazz loss, would've eliminated them from the playoff chase. As has been the case the last week or so, we've done a Game Log, ENJOY! First Quarter -No Pekovic again tonight, he'll miss his third-straight game with that quad contusion. -TWolves going with Rubio, Ridnour, Kirilenko, Williams & Stiemsma as their starters, Jazz go with Mo Williams, Foye, Hayward, Millsap & Jefferson. -This is Stiemer's 18th start of the season. -Jazz go to Millsap on their first possession for a brick mid-range jumper. -Mo Williams was in foul trouble early in that matchup on Friday and he just picked up his first personal just 36 seconds into this one. -First time Big Al touches the ball, Andrei Kirilenko comes down in the double team, Big Al gets the ball out of the post and finds Randy Foye who drives the lane for an easy bucket. -Randy Foye hot early, hits his first two field goals, both two-pointers. In that matchup on Friday every one of his makes came from beyond the three-point line. -TWolves struggling on O early as they haven't scored any since Rubio's two free throws 36 seconds into this one. Jazz lead 2-10 w/8:25 to play. -TWolves look completely disoriented and disjointed in this one. The Jazz are on a 16-0 run, lead 2-16 w/7:00 to play. -Derrick finally ends the run with a slash to the bucket and an easy layup, 4-16 w/6:35 to play. -TWolves battling back now after two straight fast break buckets. TWolves on a 6-0 run, down 8-16 w/4:50 to play. -Big Al's shot is not there tonight, has bricked three mid-range jumpers thus far. -Out of a timeout, the Jazz go to Big Al and he brings down into the paint for an easy hook shot over Greg. Next Jazz possession right back to Big Al and the same move, but Stiemer fouls him on the shot. -Dante checks in for Greg Stiemsma w/3:03 to play in the quarter. -Williams hits two free throws at the line and the Wolves down just 6, 14-20, 2:40 to play. -Luke Ridnour, Ricky Rubio & Andrei Kirilenko trying to get the ball moving, but every time it gets to Williams the ball stops as he hangs on to it for extended time, usually to hoist up a contested mid-range jumper. -J.J. Barea checks into the game with just over a minute to play. If we were in Utah they would've cued the boos. -The Wolves manage just 18 points in the first quarter, while Jazz go for 26. -Derrick Williams leads all scorers with 9, Big Al has 8 for the Jazz. Wolves shooting just 33.3% as a team. Second Quarter -TWolves on a 10-4 run, before a Favors bucket makes it 24-30 w/9:45 to play in this second quarter. -Derrick Favors picks up his third personal foul, forces Ty Corbin to bring in DeMarre Carroll. -TWolves down 28-34 w/7:15 to play. -Dante playing well tonight as he's hit a number of mid-range jumpers and a couple layups--as has been the case the past few games--active on the boards as well. -J.J. had a good game vs. the Jazz on Friday, but hasn't been able to get it going, missing a couple of jumpers and missed opportunities at the rim. Then he hits two free throws and runs up court for a wide open three, for a 5-0 run of his own. TWolves down 2, 34-36 w/5:00 to play. -Dante Cunningham was doing well on Big Al, forcing him to work a bit harder, had a block on him from behind. Stiemsma checks back in and takes Jefferson defensively, the Jazz go right to him and Stiemer gives up an easy layup... -Barea triples again on a fast break opportunity as he finds himself wide open, now has 11pts on 4-6 FG. TWolves were down by 14 at one point, now down just 2, 41-43 w/2:38 to play in the first half. -Jazz come out of timeout on a 6-0 run to take a eight-point lead to end the first half. Jazz lead 41-48 after two quarters. Halftime -At the half, Big Al leads all scorers with 12 points on 5-10 shooting to go along with 3 boards and 2 blocks. Mo Williams adds 8pts, 4reb, 5ast, 3stls and Randy Foye has 7pts on 3-6 shooting. -The Wolves are led by Derrick Williams (11pts, 3reb, 1stl) and J.J. Barea (11pts, 3ast). -Minnesota is shooting 44.4% from the field, 22.2% from deep and 77.8% from the line. The Jazz are shooting 47.6% from the field, 0% from deep (0-6) and 90% from the line. -Jazz with a +1 advantage on the boards (19-20) and +4 in points in the paint (20-24). The Wolves are leading in fast break points 11-6. Third Quarter -Jazz continue that run that ended the first half with a 5-0 run to make it 41-53. Ends with Kirilenko banking in a shot in the post to make it a 10-point game. -TWolves struggles that plagued them early in the first quarter seem to be back with this same unit in the third quarter. -The Jazz are building that lead back up as it's now a 14-point game: 43-57 w/7:50 to play in the quarter. -TWolves answer with a 9-0 spurt to get the deficit back to single digits, before Big Al hits a hook shot to make it 52-59 w/4:00 to play. -TWolves continue to show their resiliency. They've battled all season, there's really no quit in this Wolves team. They get down by double digits multiple times in this game and continue to battle back. -Kirilenko hits a pair at the line to make ti 58-61 Jazz with 2:20 to play. -Jazz continue to go with what's working as they get the ball to Jefferson in the paint. He's either hitting the hook shot or getting fouled and making them count at the line. He's now up to 17. -Now Jazz on a 6-0 run to make it 67-58, before Dante hits a mid-range jumper to make it a 7-point game w/under a minute to play in the quarter. -Cunningham has picked up fouls on consecutive possessions as he's now up to 4 on the night. -The buzzer sounds and the Jazz lead by 11 after three, 60-71. Fourth Quarter -TWolves need one of their big fourth quarters if they want to play spoiler in this one and finish with a winning record at Target Center this season. -A 12-point lead for Utah here with 7:25 to play. TWolves not getting stops and unable to execute the O. -Budinger airballs a three and the Wolves are now 2-17 from deep (those two makes coming from J.J. in transition). -Rubio checks out as the Wolves are going with Barea, Shved, Budinger, Williams & Cunningham. -Randy Foye nails the triple and it's now an 18-point deficit, TWolves down 68-86 with just under six minutes to play. -Be interesting to see if the Wolves continue to battle and cut into this lead like they've done so many times tonight, or if this is the point when they 'pack it in' and call it a night. The Wolves have answered every run the Jazz have gone on in this game. Do they have one more in 'em? -Mickael Gelabale checks into the game with just under four minutes to play and with the Wolves still down 18, this one is effectively over. At the next dead ball, Chris Johnson takes the floor with three minutes to play. -The Wolves just didn't have a run to answer the Jazz here in the fourth and they'll fall to 20-21 on the year at home and 30-51 overall. -TWolves rolling with Shved, Gelabale, Budinger, Cunningham & Johnson to end this one. -TWolves have 72 points with just over 2:20 to play, their season-low is 75... -A Dante Cunningham fast break layup gives the Wolves 76 w/1:20 to play. -Chris Johnson attempts a mega-dunk that would've certainly got the crowd buzzing, but he was fouled and he hits a pair at the line. -Dante Cunningham steps to the line and hits two free throws to give the Wolves 80 on the night. -And it's a final, Jazz win 96-80. Box Score The Timberwolves had a season-low 3 offensive rebounds in this one, while holding the Jazz to 3 offensive rebounds of their own (which is also a TWolves opponent season-low). Not a single player finished in double figures on the boards (or assists).
Al Jefferson followed up his 40-point, 13-rebound, 6-assist night with 22 points & 8 rebounds in this one. Mo Williams had a great all around game posting 14pts, 4reb, 7ast & 4stls. And former Wolf Randy Foye had a good night in his old stomping grounds finishing with 14pts, 2reb, 3ast, 2stls. Foye only scored on five threes on Friday night, tonight he hit some mid-range shots as well as a couple layups, in addition to two threes. Jefferson scored 8 points apiece in both the first & third quarters. Mo had 7 of his 15 in the third quarter and Randy Foye doubled his totals from the first three quarters with another 7 in the fourth quarter alone to finish with those 14. The TWolves got 9 points from Williams in the first, Barea had all 11 of his points in the second quarter and Dante Cunningham scored 8 of his 12 in that third quarter. Ricky Rubio didn't have a great ball game and tonight was one of those rare games that he didn't lead the team in assists. The Wolves still had 21 as a team. Barea led with 5; Shved, Rubio & Kirilenko each had 4; and Ridnour added 3. The Wolves have just one game left this season. 2012-13 comes to an end on Wednesday night in San Antonio. We'll have that final preview & recap as well as news, updates & rumors all summer long. As always, thank you for reading HOWL and GO WOLVES!
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Cody D. AndersonA Wolves fan bringing you Gameday Recaps all season long! 2014-15 Game ArchivesGameday Archives
December 2015
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