• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Jazz close out trek in Twin Cities

Dec 22, 2010 - 4:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz will wrap up a four-game road trip against the reeling Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center tonight.

Utah was trounced in the opener of its trek by New Orleans but has responded with consecutive wins at Milwaukee and Cleveland. C.J. Miles scored a team- high 22 points off the bench, while Deron Williams and Al Jefferson both recorded a double-double on Monday to lead the Jazz to a 101-90 victory over the Cavs at Quicken Loans Arena.

The triumph was Utah head coach Jerry Sloan's 1,210th victory, tying him with Pat Riley for third most coaching wins in NBA history. Sloan is 122 victories behind Lenny Wilkens for second place. Don Nelson is the all-time leader at 1,335 triumphs.

"I don't have any thoughts on it," Sloan said of his latest milestone. "That's not how I ever played or how I've ever coached. Obviously, I like to win, but I couldn't win without the coaches I have had with me."

Williams posted 17 points and 10 assists, and Jefferson ended with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who are now 9-4 as the visitor on the year. Raja Bell and Paul Millsap both contributed 19 points for the victors.

"We just ran our offense," Jefferson said of the balanced attack. "When you pass to the open guy, everyone gets open shots."

The Wolves, meanwhile, are coming off an awful 0-6 road trip, punctuated by a 113-90 setback against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Eric Gordon scored 21 of his season-high 36 points in the first half of that one to help Los Angeles garner the victory.

Michael Beasley posted 20 points to lead Minnesota, which has lost eight of nine overall and 12 consecutive on the road. Kevin Love added 12 points and 10 rebounds, but the Timberwolves were dominated near the basket.

"We wanted to do a good job in the paint and we didn't get it done tonight," said Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis. "Our effort wasn't there. Our focus wasn't there to get the job done."

Minnesota has been much more competitive at Target Center this year, compiling a 5-6 mark on its home floor versus a dismal 1-17 record on the road. The Wolves have split their past six meetings with Utah in the Twin Cities.