This is the second game in three days between the two teams.
The Wolves fell to the Jazz in Utah on Friday night, 106-102. It was actually a
pretty impressive game considering the Wolves were without Jeff Teague, Robert
Covington and Tyus Jones. Combined with that, Gorgui Dieng left due to a hip
injury and Taj Gibson was ejected.
The Wolves will be shorthanded again, but how shorthanded is the question. We
know Covington, Jones and Teague will be out, but Rose is questionable.
We’ll know closer to tipoff with both sides deciding not to shootaround on
Sunday morning.
As far as playoff implications are concerned, this one is important.
The Wolves go into the game at 24-25, 11th in the West and three games back from
a playoff spot. Utah is seventh in the West, 3.5 games ahead of the Wolves.
This is the third matchup between the two teams. The series is split at 1-1. The
final game between the two teams will be played on March 14 in Utah.
Jerryd Bayless has missed the majority of the season due to a knee injury. When
he returned in mid-December, he did so as an end-of-the-bench player. That
wasn’t a knock on Bayless as much as it was a credit to Minnesota’s depth at
guard. But that depth has taken a hit due to injuries and Bayless has played 28
or more minutes in the last three games, including 40 against the Jazz on
Friday.
In those three games, Bayless is holding his own, averaging 13.7 points, 6.7
assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Expect him to get plenty of minutes in this
one, even if Rose is able to go.
When looking back on the trade the Wolves made earlier this year with the 76ers,
a lot of fans probably overlooked Bayless. He’s proving to be pretty valuable
right now.
This marks Rubio’s fourth game at Target Center as a member of the Jazz after
being traded in the summer of 2017.
Rubio, of course, spent 2011-2017 with the Wolves after being drafted fifth
overall in the 2009 draft. In his six seasons in Minnesota, Rubio averaged 10.3
points, 8.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.
In his second season in Utah, Rubio is averaging 12.7 points and 6.0 assists per
game.
In six career games against the Wolves, Rubio has struggled a bit, averaging
11.5 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 38.2 percent from the field
and 28.6 percent from the 3-point line.
Wolves: Robert Covington (knee), Tyus Jones (ankle) and Jeff Teague (foot) are
out. Derrick Rose (ankle) is questionable. Gorgui Dieng (hip) is probable.
Jazz: Raul Neto (groin), Thabo Sefolosha (hamstring), Dante Exum (ankle) and
Tony Bradley (knee) are out.
Wolves: PG – Bayless, SG – Okogie, SF – Wiggins, PF – Gibson, C – Towns
Jazz: PG – Rubio, SG – Mitchell, SF – Ingles, PF – Favors, C – Gobert
Media Content:
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/scouting-report-wolves-jazz-1-27-2019
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Timberwolves,
Utah Jazz
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Story Link:
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