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
Utah Jazz's Ricky Rubio, middle, drives the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves' Tyus Jones (1) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz went on to win 116-108.
Utah Jazz's Ricky Rubio, middle, drives the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves' Tyus Jones (1) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz went on to win 116-108. (Mike Nelson — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

6 p.m. vs. Utah • FSN, 830-AM

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.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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