Timberwolves 98 - 108 Jazz
Final
  for this game

Utah slips past Minnesota

Jan 22, 2012 - 5:30 AM Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Paul Millsap poured in 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and pulled down nine rebounds as the Utah Jazz outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-98, for their fourth win in five games.

Al Jefferson contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who also received 18 points from C.J. Miles and 12 from Raja Bell.

Ricky Rubio led seven Minnesota players in double figures with 17 points and 11 assists to go with four steals, but the Timberwolves couldn't build momentum from Friday night's 101-98 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kevin Love, who hit the winning three-point shot at the buzzer at Staples Center on Friday, struggled by going 5-of-21 from the floor on Saturday. He had 15 points and eight rebounds, but the Timberwolves had their three-game winning streak broken.

"Playing last night and everything he's probably a little tired. Hopefully we'll have day off tomorrow and Monday we'll be a little bit refreshed," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said.

The Jazz built the lead to 76-62 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, but the Timberwolves trimmed that to 84-81 going to the fourth thanks in part to eight points from Love in the period.

Wayne Ellington's three-pointer to open the fourth tied the game, but the Jazz never trailed in the stanza. Derrick Favors, who was fined $25,000 earlier in the day by the NBA for throwing the ball into the stands during Thursday's loss to Dallas, countered by sinking a free throw.

Later, Watson's three-point play expanded the lead to 98-91 with 6:44 left, and the Jazz kept the Timberwolves at arm's length the rest of the way.

"We gave them too many opportunities to win the game. They are a good team, and they have continued to get better over the last couple of years, they have a great group of guys," Miles said. "Kevin Love does a good job, and Rubio is running the show great. But we got some shots when we needed."

Utah held a 54-52 lead at the half.

Game Notes

The Jazz lead the all-time series against the Timberwolves 61-31, including 35-11 at home...Love had his consecutive double-double streak at 15 games to start the season broken...Utah's Josh Howard missed his fourth game in a row with a strained left quad.






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