Northwest Division foes will lock horns when the Utah Jazz (19-25) challenge the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-32) at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Action begins at 9:00 pm ET on Friday, Jan. 29 and can be seen on RT and FNo.
The Jazz are hoping for a better outcome after their 95-92 loss to the Pistons on Monday. Despite the loss, Rudy Gobert earned his sixth double-double this season with 17 points and 17 rebounds. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 114-107 loss against the Cavaliers on Monday. Minnesota still lost despite the best efforts of Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded his 22nd double-double of the season with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Gobert and Gordon Hayward have been better than usual over the last five games for the Jazz. During that stretch, Gobert has averaged 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.6 blocks, while Hayward has recorded 24.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers a game. The Timberwolves also have their own player combo that has upped their production in that same time frame. Towns has averaged 20.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steal, 2.4 blocks, and 0.6 three-pointers, while Andrew Wiggins has put up 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.6 blocks.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams, with the Timberwolves winning the first matchup 94-80. Towns put up 25 points and 10 rebounds.
The Jazz are a seven-point favorite against Minnesota and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at 196 points. The Jazz have gone 20-25 Straight Up (SU) and 23-21-1 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 3-6 SU and 4-5 ATS against divisional opponents. Opposing teams know they’re in for a battle when they play Utah’s stingy defense. The Jazz are one of the top teams when it comes to defense, allowing just 96.8 points per game.
Over on the other bench, the Timberwolves have a record of 20-26-1 ATS and 14-33 SU. Against fellow division members, Minnesota has a 2-8 SU and a 4-6 ATS record. The Timberwolves get to the line and convert their free throws at a high volume, leading the league with 974 made (21.0 per game).
Minnesota beat Utah in their most recent meeting this season, bringing the head-to-head record to an even 5-5 SU over the last 10 meetings. With a 6-4 record, the Timberwolves have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – Uta, ATS Winner – Min, O/U – Under
Notes
Utah is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah’s last 7 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 17 of Utah’s last 25 games when playing Minnesota.
Utah is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games when playing Minnesota.
Utah is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah’s last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota.
Utah is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against Minnesota.
Utah is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota.
The Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves both hold losing records against teams in the Northwest Division. Utah is 3-6 in these matchups, and Minnesota has a 2-7 record.
On average, Minnesota puts up 99.7 points per game (ranked 21st), while Utah gives up 96.8 points per game (ranked fifth).
Minnesota averages 101.1 points per away game (ranked 10th). However, Utah has allowed an average of just 94.5 points per home game (ranked second).
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Timberwolves are 10-6 on the season. When the Jazz score fewer than 100, they are a poor 11-18.
Minnesota is an underachieving 4-26 when it allows 100 or more points. Utah has an 8-7 record when it hits triple digits.
The Timberwolves have an offensive rating of 102.0 (ranked 23rd), while the Jazz rank 17th for their defensive rating of 104.1.
Utah has an average field goal percentage of 44.1%. Minnesota is an abysmal 5-27 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Utah Jazz attempt 23.0 three pointers per game, and the Minnesota Timberwolves attempt 15.0 per game on average. When attempting at least 25 three pointers this season, Utah has a losing record (6-12), but Minnesota is undefeated (1-0).
Utah has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.31 this season (ranked 28th). Minnesota ranks higher with an A/TO of 1.51 (ranked 18th).
The Utah Jazz rebound 42.4 times per game and are ranked 23rd. Ranked 24th, the Minnesota Timberwolves rebound 42.2 times per game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves rank 21st in offensive rebounding, while the Utah Jazz rank 27th in defensive rebounding.
Utah is one of the top teams in forced turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 14.8% (ranked 10th). Minnesota has a subpar record of 7-16 SU this season when its TOV% reaches 14.8% or greater.
