Jazz Overpower Shorthanded Wolves

Despite an incredible night from Andrew Wiggins and some hot shooting from
Jerryd Bayless and Luol Deng, the Wolves couldn’t muster up enough production on
offense to overcome the Jazz and on Sunday night and took a 125-111 loss. The
Wolves hung with the Jazz for three courters, but Utah turned on the jets in the
fourth, outscoring the Wolves 35-26 in the period to get the win.

Wiggins finished with 35 points and added four assists, three rebounds and three
steals. He also shot 56.5 percent from the field. This loss is not on him. To be
perfectly honest, this loss isn’t really on anyone–Karl-Anthony Towns had 22
with seven assists and six rebounds and three blocks, Bayless lit it up for 19
points and four three-pointers and the Wolves got a good contribution from Luol
Deng off the bench. If there’s a bone to be picked it’s that the Wolves couldn’t
get enough production from the rest of their bench, but with four rotation
players on the shelf it’s hard not to be sympathetic.

Deng and Bayless put on a clinic tonight from deep, going a combined 7-for-10
from beyond the arc. Their efforts helped the Wolves put together one of their
best three-point shooting outings of the season, hitting 17-of-36 threes.

HOW DOES IT FEEEEEL, LUUUUU?!?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/vRGixuIcqx

Getting that type of production from those two is awesome, but you’d love to see
that production come off the bench. It’s hard to generate a lot of production
when you’re down your three top point guards and your starting small forward.
The lack of ball-handlers was a killer tonight as the Wolves turned the ball
over 16 times. Unfortunately, injuries have hit the Wolves at a bad time. The
loss drops them to two games below .500 and while the playoffs are still very
much within striking distance, back-to-back losses against a divisional opponent
isn’t awesome.

we are fully aware of the blizzard outside, but…IT’S A GOSH DARN SOAKING WET
RAINSTORM INSIDE HERE (unfortunately the rain is also falling on the other side,
too) pic.twitter.com/eqALxW7KjJ

However, the Wolves don’t need to panic yet. They have some winnable games
coming up against the Grizzlies and Magic, and the Wolves always play the
Nuggets tough despite Denver’s superior record. The Wolves have the ability to
get back on track and as some of their injured guys start to return, that
mission will only get easier. For now, they just need to buckle up and do what
they can–with players like Bayless and Deng playing like they are, that’s
certainly doable.

The Wolves’ next game is home against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Player: Jerryd Bayless

Player: Karl-Anthony Towns

Player: Andrew Wiggins

Media Content:
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/jazz-overpower-shorthanded-wolves

Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Minnesota Timberwolves, Jerryd Bayless,
Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Taxonomy: Game Recap

Story Link:
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Jerryd Bayless Has Been Solid For Wolves As Injury Bug Continues To Bite