Utah slams the door on Minnesota. In a wild finish in Salt Lake City tonight, the Jazz outlasted the Timberwolves 127 to 122. Minnesota walked in with star power and heat after Anthony Edwards’ 55 point outburst in his last game. Utah walked out with a statement win and some swagger.
The Jazz won the clutch minutes. They spaced the floor, hit timely shots, and took care of the ball. Minnesota had answers for long stretches. In the final three minutes, Utah had more.
How Utah Closed It
This game swung on execution. Utah hunted the right matchups and got downhill. They created clean looks on drive and kick action. They also made Minnesota guard for a full clock. That tired legs and minds, even for a team that prides itself on defense.
On the other end, Utah sent extra help at Edwards. They showed him bodies early and late. They took away his easy lanes to the rim. He still bent the defense, but the easy, early-clock stuff slowed. Minnesota had to trust the pass. Some shots rimmed out. Two live-ball turnovers hurt.
Utah also won two extra possessions on the glass. One led to free throws. The other bled the clock. In a five point game, that is the ballgame.
Final: Jazz 127, Timberwolves 122. Utah’s late-game poise, strong rebounding, and layered help on Anthony Edwards made the difference.
Adjustments That Mattered
Traps on Edwards
Utah mixed coverages on the star guard. At times they switched. At times they blitzed the pick and roll. The goal was simple, make him give it up and reset. That slowed Minnesota’s tempo. It also forced secondary creators to carry more weight late. Edwards still drew fouls and kicked to shooters. Utah lived with that trade, and the math worked in crunch time.
Owning the paint
Minnesota has length and shot blocking. Utah met that with quick decisions and strong seals. Paint touches came from slips and duck-ins, not just straight post play. The Jazz bigs carved out space early in the shot clock. That created kickouts and putbacks. It also kept the Wolves out of easy runouts.
Pace and patience
The Jazz picked their spots. They ran after misses. They walked it up after makes. That rhythm control matters in Salt Lake City, where altitude tests your lungs. Utah won the tug of war on pace in the fourth quarter. Minnesota’s half-court sets got heavier. Utah’s sets got cleaner.
What It Means for Minnesota
This was Game 44, and it had a playoff feel. Minnesota will look back at late-clock offense, turnover timing, and defensive rebounding. The film will show chances to cut off the head of the snake. It will also show progress. The Wolves created good looks. They battled on the road. They did not fold after a third quarter push by Utah.
Edwards drew a crowd all night. That is the new normal. His next step is punishing those traps even faster. Early passes. Quick relocations. Cuts without the ball. When he does that, the floor opens for everyone. The Wolves’ frontcourt also has a role here. Early screens, deeper rolls, and strong seals can tilt the floor back in Minnesota’s favor.
[IMAGE_2]
- Three keys for the next stretch:
- Sharper late-game spacing to give Edwards two clear outlets
- Finish defensive possessions on the glass
- Cut live-ball turnovers in the final four minutes
There is no panic in that locker room. There is a standard. This group expects to defend and close. They have size, shot making, and a star who thrives in big moments. Nights like this iron out the details.
Expect Minnesota to lean into quick counters against early traps on Edwards. Empty corner ball screens and split cuts can free him without forcing.
Around the Arena
The building had juice from warmups on. Utah crowds are loud, and they were on their feet late. Every deflection sparked a roar. Every hit-ahead pass felt like a swing. Wolves fans traveled and made noise, but the home push carried weight. You could feel the urgency in both huddles. Coaches barked matchups. Players called out switches. It felt like April in January.
This one also fits the culture of both teams. Utah prides itself on toughness and team play. They share it, they scrap, and they win with depth. Minnesota leans on star power and defense first. That identity did not crack tonight, it just met a sharp closing group in a hard gym.
The Bottom Line
Utah earned this win with detail and discipline. Minnesota walks out with bruise marks and a clear checklist. Both teams showed why they belong in the West’s tight mix. The Wolves will see this film again when the games really count. The Jazz will point to it as proof they can finish. Tonight, they did.
