Gameday preview: Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz
The Jazz has won two of its past three games, three of its past five and 12 of its past 15 after Friday's 107-97 home victory over a Memphis team that won Monday at Target Center.
April 1, 2018 at 1:51AM
Preview: The Jazz has won two of its past three games, three of its past five and 12 of its past 15 after Friday's 107-97 home victory over a Memphis team that won Monday at Target Center. Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell scored 22 in that one and veteran forward Joe Ingles had a 17-point, 10-assist double-double. … The season series — a tiebreaker in the playoff race — is on the line in this the fourth and final meeting between the teams. The Wolves have won two of the first three, winning 101-97 at Target Center in the season's second game and 109-98 in Salt Lake City in November and losing 118-108 at Utah a month ago.
Players to watch: Winner of this season's All-Star dunk contest, Mitchell was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in February and led all rookies in scoring during March with a 23-point average. He led the Jazz in scoring for the 41st time vs. Memphis while guard Dante Exum scored a season-high 21 points. … The Jazz had four of the NBA's top six players in plus-minus rating for the month of March, if you believe in such a thing: Mitchell was third with a plus-187, Ingles was fourth with a plus-170, Rudy Gobert was a plus-168 and former Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio was sixth with a plus-163.
Injuries: Wolves G Jimmy Butler was cleared on Friday for contact practice and is listed as out for Sunday's game. G Derrick Rose has missed the past five games because of a sprained ankle and is doubtful. Utah G Raul Neto (wrist fracture) and G Thabo Sefolosha (knee surgery) are out. G Rubio (hamstring) is questionable.
The Wolves are coming off back-to-back losses in Portland and are on a three-game losing streak.
