• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Wolves, Jazz finish off season at Target Center

Apr 16, 2014 - 2:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - In what could be the final game for Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman, the T'Wolves will close the season Wednesday versus the Northwest-rival Utah Jazz at Target Center.

Adelman could receive his walking papers after the season and his team hasn't made the playoffs since 2003-04. The Timberwolves do have a chance to finish with a .500 record, which would be the first since 2004-05 (44-38).

Minnesota dropped its third in a row on the road with Monday's 130-120 setback at Golden State, as Kevin Love pumped in 40 points on 11-of-24 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds. Corey Brewer, two games removed from a 51-point outburst, ended with 22 and made 10-of-13 from the field.

Ricky Rubio posted 15 points and eight assists, while Gorgui Dieng and Kevin Martin also scored 15 apiece for the T'Wolves, who have lost two in a row since winning four of six games. Minnesota shot 53 percent from the field.

The Wolves allowed the Warriors to score 30 or more points in each of the last three quarters and Stephen Curry led four players with at least 20 points by scoring 32 and handing out 15 assists.

"You knew they were going to make a run," said Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman. "Nothing changed. You're not going to be able to hold them down. We got out to a great start, but you knew they were going to make a run eventually."

Minnesota is 24-16 at Target Center, where it has prevailed in five of its last seven opportunities. Love is averaging 25.2 points and 11.8 rebounds in his last nine games. Many wonder if Love's career in Minnesota is coming to a close soon, as he can opt out of his contract in 2015.

The Jazz look to end the season on a high note, having lost five in a row and 21 of their last 24 games. In a 119-104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Salt Lake City, all five starters scored in double digits and Alec Burks led the way with 22. Burks is scoring 16.3 ppg in his past six (3 starts).

Gordon Hayward had 21 points, Enes Kanter ended with 19 and 12 rebounds and Trey Burke chipped in 17 points for the Jazz, who shot an impressive 52 percent and committed 18 turnovers for 29 Lakers points. Derrick Favors rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points.

"(The Lakers) got hot as a team. They got out in transition and we really didn't get stops like we needed to. That's the bottom line," said Jazz guard Trey Burke.

Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin could be on the hot seat as well when the season comes to a close. Corbin's squad is just 8-32 away from home and winless in the past seven road games.

Utah is 0-3 against Minnesota this season and has lost three of its last five trips to the Twin Cities. The Jazz are still a decent 11-5 in the past 16 meetings between the Northwest foes and 68-35 all-time in the series.

Minnesota has never swept a season series from Utah.