SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donovan Mitchell was discovering his teammates in all kinds of the way. One in all his career-high 11 assists regarded as if it belonged on the diamond as an alternative of the courtroom.
Mitchell scored 24 factors however the Utah Jazz frittered away a 23-point lead and barely outlasted the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves 106-102 on Friday night time.
Rudy Gobert, who was a game-time resolution with a sore hamstring, had 18 factors and 16 rebounds, and Kyle Korver scored 16 for the Jazz, who’ve gained eight of their final 9.
Karl-Anthony Cities had 33 factors and 10 rebounds and Andrew Wiggins scored 21 factors on 8-of-26 capturing and had a season-high 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which noticed its three-game profitable streak snapped on the second sport of a back-to-back.
Anthony Tolliver hit his second Three of the ultimate 4 minutes to get the Timberwolves inside one at 103-102, however Luol Deng missed an open 3-pointer within the nook for an opportunity to offer Minnesota its first lead because the first quarter.
Joe Ingles, who had 12 factors, snatched the rebound and hit two free throws. On the subsequent possession, Gobert bought a bit of Tolliver’s 3-point try. Mitchell rebounded and hit one free throw to clinch the win.
Mitchell, who has scored no less than 24 factors in 11 consecutive video games, was compelled to play the purpose for six video games whereas all three Jazz level guards had been injured. Though Rubio has returned, Mitchell has continued his playmaking methods and marked the primary double-double of his profession.
Within the second quarter, Mitchell – the son of former minor league pitcher Donovan Sr., the New York Mets’ director of participant relations – threw the stunning cross-court fastball with one hand to Niang for a 3.
“Presently final yr, he wasn’t even throwing these passes to the nook and now he is throwing left hand, proper hand, one, two, no matter he must do to get it there,” Ingles mentioned.
Within the third quarter, the Timberwolves took one other hit when Taj Gibson went after the officers and bought two technicals and needed to be restrained by his teammates after a foul name as Ingles went to the basket.
The Jazz then shot 5 free throws, three by Mitchell (as Cities additionally bought a technical) and two by Ingles. With 4:46 left within the third, Mitchell hit two extra foul photographs to cap the 13-Zero run and the Jazz led 75-54.
The Jazz led by as many as 23 within the third interval, however the Timberwolves scored the primary 13 factors of the fourth quarter. When Cities adopted his personal missed jumper with a layup, the Timberwolves had closed inside eight at 90-82.
Utah barely survived whereas capturing 5 of 28 within the fourth quarter and was saved by some hustle performs and defensive stops. The Jazz made solely two discipline targets within the ultimate 5 minutes.
The Timberwolves had been lacking Derrick Rose (sore ankle), Tyus Jones (ankle sprain) and Jeff Teague (sore foot), which precipitated some bother in executing the offense and gamers getting the ball in unfamiliar positions.
Gibson would not have an issue with official James Williams, despite the fact that it regarded as if he needed to battle him when he bought ejected.
Timberwolves: Minnesota fumbled its method to 12 turnovers within the first half. … Cities was restricted to 6 first-half minutes due to foul bother. … The Timberwolves outscored the Jazz within the paint 48-38.
Jazz: Ingles bought a technical within the fourth quarter. … A bat flew across the area, interrupting a number of the gamers’ pregame capturing routines. The Jazz Bear mascot lastly caught the bat. “That was scary,” Mitchell mentioned. “I used to be not cool with that in any respect. I am glad the Bear bought him as a result of I might not have completed my warmup. I might have gone to locker room if he was nonetheless flying round on the market.” … Brandon Flowers of the rock band The Killers sat courtside.
Jazz: Go to Minnesota on Sunday.