<div align="center"><font color="Blue">Utah Jazz </font> (42-38) @ <font color="DarkOliveGreen">Minnesota Timberwolves </font> (56-24)</div> <div align="center">Time and Date: 8:00 pm Mon. April 12 Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Local TV: KJZZ,FSN Nat TV: NBALP</div> Probable Starters <u> Backcourt</u> <font color="Blue">Carlos Arroyo</font>/<font color="DarkOliveGreen">Sam Cassell</font> <font color="Blue">Gordan Giricek</font>/<font color="DarkOliveGreen">Latrell Sprewell</font> <u>Frontcourt</u> <font color="Blue">Andrei Kirilenko</font>/<font color="DarkOliveGreen">Trenton Hassell</font> <font color="Blue">Tom Gugliotta</font>/<font color="DarkOliveGreen">Kevin Garnett</font> <font color="Blue">Jarron Colins</font>/<font color="DarkOliveGreen">Ervin Johnson</font> 6th men <font color="Blue">Raja Bell</font>/<font color="DarkOliveGreen">Wally Szcerbiak</font> <u>Injury Updates:</u> <font color="Blue">Utah</font> Curtis Borchardt C Wrist (OUT) Matt Harpring F Knee (OUT) <font color="DarkOliveGreen"> Minnesota</font> Ndudi Ebi F Knee (OUT) Troy Hudson G Ankle (OUT) <u><font color="Blue">Utah's Statistical Leaders</font></u> Points A. Kirilenko 16.5 Rebounds A. Kirilenko 8.1 Assists C. Arroyo 5.0 <font color="DarkOliveGreen"><u>Minnesota's Statistical Leaders</u></font> Points K. Garnett 24.3 Rebounds K. Garnett 13.9 Assists S. Cassell 7.3 <u><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode"> Players to watch</font></u> <font color="Blue">Andrei Kirilenko: 16.5ppg 8.10rpg 3.1apg 2.79bpg 1.92spg </font> <font color="DarkOliveGreen">Kevin Garnett: 24.3ppg 13.90rpg 5.1apg 2.15bpg 1.48spg </font> <u>Season series</u> Utah leads (2-1) Monday, Nov. 3 at Utah Min 88- Utah 93 Friday, Nov. 14 at Minnesota Min 77- Utah 85 Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Utah Min 77- Utah 66 Monday, Apr. 12 at Minnesota <u>First Meeting:</u> Matt Harpring scored 32 points and Greg Ostertag had a career-best 21 rebounds and six blocks as Utah claimed a 93-88 win over the Timberwolves on Nov. 3 at the Delta Center. Andrei Kirilenko added 17 points and five blocks, and Ra?l L?pez handed out eight assists for the Jazz. Sam Cassell's 27 points and 10 assists led Minnesota, while Latrell Sprewell contributed 24 points. <u>Second Meeting:</u> Carlos Arroyo tallied a career-high 30 points as Utah extended the Wolves' home losing streak to three with an 85-77 win on Nov. 14 at Target Center. The Jazz raced to a 21-point lead in the second quarter, and Minnesota could get no closer than eight thereafter. Matt Harpring added 12 points and nine rebounds for Utah, while Kevin Garnett led the Wolves with 23 points and 14 boards. <u>Third Meeting: </u> Sam Cassell scored 24 points and Fred Hoiberg added all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves held off Utah, 77-66, on Feb. 11 at the Delta Center. Kevin Garnett tallied 17 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, while Latrell Sprewell chipped in 13 points. Andrei Kirilenko led the Jazz with 21 points and nine rebounds, with Carlos Arroyo adding 13 points. <font color="Red">The Jazz have won six of the past eight meetings with Minnesota -- including Nov. 14 at Target Center -- to open up a 45-19 margin in the all-time series. Utah was the only Western Conference team to take a season series from the Wolves in 2002-03. Minnesota is 12-20 at home vs. the Jazz, having dropped three of four.</font> <font color="Blue"> <u>Utah Notes:</u></font> FAST FACTS Raja Bell and Raul Lopez are the only players that have seen action in all 80 games?The Jazz lead the league in fouls called per game averaging 25.4 while their opponents are called for 24.3?Through 80 games this season the Jazz have used 15 different starting lineups, the Jazz only used 10 different starting lineups during the 2002-03 season?The Jazz have been held under 100 points 45 of the last 46 games? <font color="DarkOliveGreen"><u> Minnesota Notes:</u></font> TURNOVER TROUBLE: Minnesota had 21 TOs in two straight games to start its previous road trip (Mar. 26), its first 20+ TO nights since Nov. 14 vs. Utah? Denver's six TOs on Mar. 24 tied the fewest by a Wolves foe in 2003-04; Minnesota has forced fewer than 10 TOs seven times since the Break Over the past games, Minnesota is committing an average of 0.5 TOs more than the opposition (14.2-13.7); they're a 178-174 deficit in points off TOs during that span? The Wolves committed a season-low seven TOs 14 vs. Portland; on the flipside, they were charged with 26 TOs Oct. 31 at New Jersey, their 2nd-highest in the last 10 years? Minnesota did not have a steal Mar. 18 at San Antonio, the first time that's happened club history; they also failed to record a block against the Spurs, marking the first time since the NBA tracking steals and blocks in 1973-74 that a team had come up empty in both categories in the same game? The Wolves rank 2nd in the NBA in fewest TOs (12.7), but are just 28th in TOs forced (13.5)? FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: The Wolves went 7-for-13 from three-point range Sunday vs. Memphis, the 18th time they've shot 50%+ (11th in the past 32 games)? They enjoyed an 8-for-14 outing Mar. 19 at Phoenix; Minnesota is hitting 40.8% (58-for-142) in its last 11 contests, after dipping to 29.4% in the previous seven? The Wolves rank 5th in three-point accuracy (36.2%); meanwhile, they're just 27th in trey attempts (10.9) and 27th in three-pointers made (3.9)? Last year, the Wolves were 6th in three-point accuracy (36.8%), but 24th in treys made and 27th in attempts? Minnesota went 0-for-4 from long range Mar. 23 vs. San Antonio, the second time they've been blanked this year? Dallas drained 12 of 24 three-point tries Jan. 3, a season best by a Wolves foe? Memphis went 7-for-14 on Sunday; still, Minnesota's opponents have shot just 31.4% (44- for-140) in the last 11 games? The Wolves shot 50%+ from behind the line on 13 occasions in 2002-03? CHARITY CHATTER: Minnesota went to the line 28 times Mar. 23 vs. San Antonio, marking the first time in seven games they'd held the edge in FT attempts? On the year, the Wolves are 30-2 when attempting more FTs than the opposition; they're 21-22 when coming up short (4-0 when even)? Minnesota went 8-for-9 from the FT line Apr. 2 vs. Washington, tying a season low for attempts (two previous occasions)? The Wolves are averaging just 19.5 FTAs in their past 22 games, after getting to the line 25+ times in 15 of their previous 33 contests (23.8 per game)? Minnesota went 31-for-33 from the line Feb. 17 vs. Phoenix, setting a season high for makes; the Wolves also attempted 33 FTs Feb. 24 at Milwaukee? They finished 22-for-22 Feb. 1 vs. Philadelphia, the 13th perfect game in club history? The single-game record for FTs without a miss is 24, set last Apr. 5 at Phoenix; the Wolves were also 22-for-22 vs. Denver on Feb. 15, 2000? Minnesota is 28th in FTAs (20.8 per game), but 5th in FT accuracy at 77.9%; they're 36-12 when attempting 20+ FTs? <font color="Red"><u>Key Factors</u></font> *The tempo of the game. <font color="Blue">Utah</font> *Defend the perimeter. The Twolves are a excellent perimeter team with Spree, Cassell, Wally, Hoiberg... *Andrei Kirilenko. He has been sometimes inconsistent thru the season. He will need to have a great game to help the Jazz win this game. *Contain the Big 3. The Big 3 scores alot of the Wolves points. If the Jazz can defend well against them, they will have more chance of winning. <font color="DarkOliveGreen">Minnesota</font> *Play great defense like they did in the 2nd half of the game against the Warriors because when Utah can't get good shots off, they really struggle. *Free throws. Utah should be in foul trouble throughout the game because they play a very physical and agressively. They lead the league in fouls per game. The Wolves will need to make their free-throws.They usualy win when they take more free-throws than their opponents. *Take care of the ball. They sometimes turn the ball over alot. They will also need to have a great ball mouvement. <font color="Red">Notes:</font> This is very important game for both teams. The Twolves will need to win this game to have a chance of getting homecourt advantage in the conference. The Jazz will need to win this game because they are still playing for the 8th and final spot for the playoffs. <font color="Red">My prediction:</font> The Wolves win by 7.
Carlos Arroyo/Sam match will be fun to watch. And a very important one. Both point guards have given the other PG problems at certain times during the season series. Which ever point guard gets his team into their offense the best, that team will win. There wont be alot of points being scored in this game. The earlier matchups seemed very intense & scrappy. That kind of favors the Jazz But the Wolves can play that style too. I think the scrappy Jazz get under the skin of the wolves. You could see it in their last matchup, when Arroyo/jazz got into it with KG/Sam. Thats what the Jazz want to do. They want to get under the skin of the Wolves to mess with their flow. The Jazz know if the Wolves are flowing & executing there is no way they can beat the Wolves. So Sam & KG have to keep their heads. Its going to be times when Arroyo is going to hold inorder to keep Sam from doing his thing.And setting up the Wolves offense. But Sam must keep his cool.And continue to run the Wolves offense crisply. If Sam does this the Wolves win by 8-12 points.
Great preview :thumbsup: . This is probably Utah's biggest game of the season so far. For them to make the playoffs, they need to win their last 2 games and hope Denver lose 1 because Denver owns the tiebreaker. I know they can get up for this one, and they have had an edge over Minnesota this season and seasons before it. This is a huge ask for the Jazz, and I think they'll just come up short with a lack of scoring. Timberwolves by 4.
I believe this rotation will be for the best in the longrun, especially come playoff time and I think they've adapted well enough even with Hudson out again. Imagine them next year once fully adapted, I say a win by at least 7.
Timberwolves are shooting the lights out, Jazz can't make a shot right now. Timberwolves 46 Jazz 28. 2:12 left in the 2nd.
Top notch win for the Wolves tonight. They fell asleep a little bit in the 2nd half but for the most part they dominated the Jazz who really needed this game aswell. The wolves did a good job controlling the backboard tonight something they really didnt do in the 3 previous matchups against the Jazz this season. Sprewell had the jumper flowing tonight which is a good sign heading into the playoffs.KG did what KG always does. And Sam hit some free throws in the 4th to keep the Jazz at bay. But the thing that timberwolves really need to be happy with is the play of Wally off the bench. He is really starting to fit in with the team. He letting the game come to him. He isnt forcing it as much as he did when he 1st came back which is a good sign. Kandiman board work off the bench was a good sign as well. He has been doing the job on the boards as of late, hopefully he can keep this up in the playoffs. The only question I have know is if or when Hudson returns to the lineup in the playoffs, how will this team adjust to playing with him? His return is going to take shots away from Sam, Wally, Spree. And I not for sure thats what the t-wolves need. It looks like the Spurs are the only team left that the Wolves have to worry about for the top spot in the west
Denver is winning 89-87 with 2:34 in the 4th right now, if they win, they get the 8th seed. And the Portland game seems out of reach unless they make a nice comeback. I'm going to be scoreboard watching all night.
Nuggets won. I wish they would have lost because now they wont come out with a die hard attuide against the Spurs on Wednesday. So they probably going to lose which means the Wolves will have to beat the Grizz in Memphis,not an easy task for the Wolves at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nuggets won. I wish they would have lost because now they wont come out with a die hard attuide against the Spurs on Wednesday. So they probably going to lose which means the Wolves will have to beat the Grizz in Memphis,not an easy task for the Wolves at all.</div> I didn't really look at it that way, but yes, that can hold true. But I see the Nuggets playing hard anyway, to prove that they can play up there with the elite. Besides, that adds a little fire to us if(which will probably happen) the Spurs win tonight.
Great win against the Jazz. Here's some observations on the game: 1. The T'Wolves have been playing stellar defense & they're starting to punch teams out lately. Kandi's at the center of this turnaround. His shotblocking & rebounding have fueled this turnaround. According to the Strib, the T'Wolves have held their opponents to 36% shooting over the last 2+ weeks. 2. The lineup of KG-Kandi-Sam-Wally-Spree is really playing well. They're solid defensively with KG, Kandi & Spree. They're strong offensively with KG, Sam & Wally shooting well, KG posting up & forcing tons of mismatches & opening things up for his teammates. 3. Our bench played well again last night, scoring major points & making big contributions. Kandi & Wally alone outscored the Jazz bench by themselves, which is awesome when you haven't factored in Martin & Hoibs. This bench will be a big part of our long playoff run.
