Game ID: 22300138
Utah Jazz @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 29 26 37 31 123UTA 27 23 27 18 95
MIN vs UTA ScoutingMIN vs UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIN availability going into 10/25 · season opener
full strength
MIN availability going into 10/28 · 2 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 10/30 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 11/01 · 1 day's restNEW Milton 13 to 18 min over the last 3
MIN availability going into 11/04 · 2 days' restNEW Milton 13 to 18 min over the last 4
MIN availability going into 11/06 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT McLaughlin missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
UTA availability going into 10/28 · back-to-back
full strength
UTA availability going into 10/30 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 2 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/02 · back-to-backOUT Hendricks missed 4 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 4 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 5 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 5 since 10/27, out tonight
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 11/06 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 6 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 6 since 10/27, out tonight
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 7 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 7 since 10/27, out tonight
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 26 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 8 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 8 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/14 · 3 days' restOUT Kessler missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 9 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 9 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 11/08, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 11)
10/25 @ TOR 94-97 — MIN notes
MIN lost 94-97. MIN took 10 more shots (100 to 90), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to TOR's 40%, 8 of 31 from three, and went to the line 22 times to TOR's 16 — 18 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 62-47 for them. Edwards led with 26 (8 of 27, 4 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Towns added 19, Gobert 15. Q3 was theirs, 23-20, turning a 2-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 77-71 against them. Alexander-Walker's -17 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
10/28 vs MIA 106-90 — MIN notes
MIN won 106-90. MIN shot 51% (44 of 86) to MIA's 40%, 12 of 34 from three, and got to the line 8 times to MIA's 14. Reid led with 25 (10 of 14, 4 of 7 from three); Edwards added 19, Gobert 14. The hinge was Q4, 26-17: a lead of 7 became 16, and the lead reached 23. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
10/30 @ ATL 113-127 — MIN notes
MIN lost 113-127. MIN shot 49% (44 of 90) to ATL's 56%, 16 of 33 from three. Edwards led with 31 (13 of 21, 5 of 8 from three); Towns added 16, Gobert 14. Q2 was theirs, 37-25, but the other 3 periods went 102-76 against them. They led by as many as 21. Reid's -21 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/01 vs DEN 110-89 — MIN notes
MIN won 110-89. MIN shot 46% (38 of 83) to DEN's 40%, 8 of 21 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DEN's 10 — 26 points from the stripe to their 7. Edwards led with 24 (8 of 16, 1 of 4 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Towns added 21, Conley 17. The hinge was Q2, 35-23: a lead of 7 became 19, and the lead reached 23. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
11/04 vs UTA 123-95 — MIN notes
MIN won 123-95. MIN shot 56% (45 of 81) to UTA's 38%, 9 of 24 from three, and went to the line 31 times to UTA's 17 — 24 points from the stripe to their 13. MIN turned it over 10 times to UTA's 18. Edwards led with 31 (13 of 19, 2 of 4 from three); Towns added 25, Reid 16. The hinge was Q4, 31-18: a lead of 15 became 28, and the lead reached 31. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
11/06 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Towns at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 30 and Brown at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 100 a night to Boston's 108 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Minnesota plus-6. Call it Boston 112, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
11/08 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 102, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Reid at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Williamson at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-10 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 102 a night to New Orleans's 122. Call it Minnesota 116, New Orleans 105, Minnesota by 11.
11/10 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Johnson at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Towns at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to San Antonio's 127 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-3. Call it Minnesota 119, San Antonio 110.
11/12 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Thompson at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Towns at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 101 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it Minnesota 114, Golden State 109.
10/28 @ PHX 104-126 — UTA notes
UTA lost 104-126. UTA shot 44% (40 of 91) to PHX's 53%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 14 times to PHX's 28. UTA turned it over 18 times to PHX's 11, and PHX turned those into 10 steals. Markkanen led with 19 (7 of 13, 5 of 7 from three); Sexton added 14, Fontecchio 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-20, the deficit cut from 28 to 22, but the other 3 periods went 106-78 against them. Collins's -28 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
10/30 @ DEN 102-110 — UTA notes
UTA lost 102-110. UTA took 14 more shots (98 to 84), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DEN's 56%, 11 of 37 from three. Markkanen led with 27 (10 of 24, 5 of 13 from three); Kessler added 22, Horton-Tucker 16. Q4 was theirs, 33-30, the deficit cut from 11 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 80-69 against them. George's -12 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/01 vs MEM 133-109 — UTA notes
UTA won 133-109. UTA shot 54% (47 of 87) to MEM's 36%, 22 of 43 from three, and got to the line 24 times to MEM's 32. UTA turned it over 21 times to MEM's 15, and MEM turned those into 12 steals. Sexton led with 23 (8 of 10, 4 of 6 from three); Clarkson added 20, Markkanen 19. The hinge was Q1, 42-19: from level to 23 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Olynyk was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
11/02 vs ORL 113-115 — UTA notes
UTA lost 113-115. UTA shot 46% (41 of 89) to ORL's 46%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 26 times to ORL's 36. Markkanen led with 22 (9 of 17, 4 of 10 from three); Clarkson added 21, Collins 20. Q1 was theirs, 34-30, but the other 3 periods went 85-79 against them. They led by as many as 10. Kessler's -10 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/04 @ MIN 95-123 — UTA notes
UTA lost 95-123. UTA took 10 more shots (91 to 81), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to MIN's 56%, 12 of 43 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIN's 31. UTA turned it over 18 times to MIN's 10, and MIN turned those into 10 steals. Markkanen led with 22 (7 of 20, 4 of 11 from three); Collins added 14, Horton-Tucker 14. Q1 was theirs, 27-29, but the other 3 periods went 94-68 against them. Collins's -21 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/06 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; LaVine at 26 and DeRozan at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Dosunmu (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Collins at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hendricks (6 straight), Sensabaugh (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and Chicago minus-7 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 18 times a game to Chicago's 11. Call it Chicago 113, Utah 111, Utah keeping it close.
11/08 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Haliburton at 26 and Turner at 17 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Collins at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Hendricks (7 straight), Sensabaugh (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-7 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Indiana's 14. Call it Indiana 122, Utah 116.
11/10 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 26 a game. Without Morant (8 straight), Williams Jr. (2 straight), Jackson (4 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Clarkson at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hendricks (8 straight), Sensabaugh (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and Memphis minus-4 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Memphis's 15. Call it Memphis 116, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.
11/14 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 25 and Clarkson at 19 a game. Without Kessler (2 straight), Hendricks (9 straight), Sensabaugh (9 straight). 3 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Grant at 28 and Sharpe at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simons (8 straight), Henderson (4 straight), Rupert (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 113 a night to Utah's 125 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-2. Call it Portland 115, Utah 114, Utah keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DN D. Nix
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. McLaughlin
JM J. Minott
KA K. Anderson
KT K. Towns
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
SM S. Milton
TB T. Brown Jr.
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
LS L. Samanic
OA O. Agbaji
OY O. Yurtseven
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Horton-Tucker
WK W. Kessler
MIN/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Towns takes over in 3rd quarter as Timberwolves beat Jazz 123-95
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 of his season-high 25 points in a dominant third-quarter stretch, and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away to beat the Utah Jazz 123-95 on Saturday night.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 31 points: 19 in the first half and 12 in the fourth quarter. Rudy Gobert had 11 points and a team-best 10 rebounds against his former team for his fourth double-double in the first five games.
“There’s things we could do better, obviously, but it’s good to know that we’re at a point right now, five games in, where we got something flowing. Just got to keep building off it,” Towns said.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points and eight rebounds. He was 4 of 11 on 3-pointers after making a franchise-record 25 through the first six Utah games. Talen Horton-Tucker and John Collins added 14 points apiece.
Utah, which opened a four-game trip, has lost four of five. In seven games, the Jazz have lost three times by at least 16 points.
“A night of a combination of poor decision-making that led to 18 turnovers and then ultimately, a very poor shooting game,” coach Will Hardy said. “Shots will go in or they won’t and there are some nights where it’s ugly in that department. Obviously 12 for 43 from the 3-point is a tough number to overcome, but we’ve got to continue to try to find some connectivity doing what we want to do on both ends of the floor for longer.”
The Timberwolves shot 55.6% and held Utah to 38.5%, the second straight Minnesota opponent to finish under 40%. Minnesota limited Denver to 39% in Wednesday’s 110-89 win.
The Timberwolves have held four of their first five opponents under 100 points. Last season, they did that just four times combined in the regular and postseason.
Minnesota is holding opponents to an NBA-best 42.7% from the field.
“It’s a testament to our coaching staff and the players in this locker room putting effort in on the defensive end,” Towns said.
After the score was tied at 66 midway through the third, Towns made a pair of 3-pointers sandwiched around a 3 from Mike Conley . Towns hit four straight free throws late in a 15-2 run, and another free throw from the 7-foot center made it 88-74 late in the period.
“It was great to see some 3s go in for him because we really need that. We need him to take more,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “He’s gotten really good looks for most of the season so far. It was only a matter of time until they go in.”
It was the second straight game in which Utah trailed by 14 in the third quarter. The Jazz rallied in the fourth Thursday but lost 115-113 to Orlando.
Edwards made a 3-pointer early in the fourth period and Conley added a bucket to give Minnesota a 100-79 lead.
A 15-5 run to end the first half, capped by a thunderous dunk from Towns, gave Minnesota a 55-50 lead.
Edwards made his first four shots as Minnesota built an early 11-point lead, but Markkanen hit successive 3s and then a third as part of a 15-6 Jazz run to close out the quarter and get Utah within 29-27.