Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves
PREVIEW: The Minnesota Timberwolves visit Utah on Tuesday night looking to reset after a disappointing Texas road trip. Minnesota fell to Houston despite strong early defense and pace, then squandered 15 points at the free-throw line in a five-point defeat. Against San Antonio, the Wolves clawed back from a 25-point deficit to briefly take the lead before losing in the final minutes. The ShotQuality data reveals Minnesota's defensive vulnerability on the perimeter, ranking 25th in three-point defense while allowing 45.3% of opponent shots from beyond the arc.
Utah enters this matchup having lost 10 of its last 12 games, including a four-game skid heading into this contest. The Jazz rank near the bottom in several efficiency metrics, including 30th in three-point shooting and 29th in offensive spacing, creating a stark contrast to their quick-tempo offense that ranks third in the league. Minnesota dominated this matchup earlier in the season with a 40-point victory, suggesting the Timberwolves possess a clear talent advantage when executing their system. The Wolves are expected to control this affair from start to finish, needing only to bring professional effort and focus to handle an undermanned Utah squad.