Timberwolves 100 - 108 Jazz
Final
  for this game

Slumping Jazz host lowly Wolves

Jan 28, 2011 - 8:06 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of slumping Northwest Division rivals collide tonight in Salt Lake City, where the Utah Jazz will host the Minnesota Timberwolves hoping to end a season-high six-game slide.

The Jazz are mired in their first six-game slide since Dec. 4-14 of the 2007-08 campaign and suffered a 112-105 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday from EnergySolutions Arena.

Despite injuring his right wrist Deron Williams had a game-best 39 points and handed out nine assists, while Al Jefferson posted 22 points and nine rebounds for Utah, which shot 54.7 percent from the floor and committed 14 turnovers for 21 San Antonio points.

"We just lost our sixth straight game," Williams said. "We played better, we played harder. But still, a loss tastes sour."

Utah is 15-8 in Salt Lake City this season and hasn't lost seven in a row since a nine-game slide from March 4-19, 2005. Williams underwent an MRI that revealed a tendon strain in his wrist and he will a game-time decision tonight. Meanwhile, forward Paul Millsap (thumb) and guard Raja Bell (neck/shoulder) are also listed as questionable for Friday's game.

The Timberwolves have lost five straight and 10 of their last 11 games, and are coming off Wednesday's 118-117 overtime in versus Oklahoma City in the Twin Cities. Kevin Durant tied a career high with 47 points and pulled down a career-best 18 rebounds for the Thunder.

Kevin Love recorded his 31st straight double-double with 31 points and 21 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Michael Beasley added 30 points, nine caroms and seven assists in defeat.

"When you have a guy like Durant, how do you stop a guy shooting right over you?" Love said. "Those types of players are once-a-generation type of players. That's a type of a guy you've never seen before. You look at a guy like that and you wonder how are you going to stop him."

Minnesota will try to put the brakes on a four-game road losing streak and is only 2-21 away from the Target Center this season.

Utah topped the Wolves, 112-107, on Dec. 22 in Minneapolis and has won three straight and 14 of the last 20 meetings in the series. The Timberwolves have just two wins in their previous nine contests at the Jazz.






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