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Sloan seeks 1,000th coaching win as Jazz face Timberwolves

Dec 8, 2006 - 3:15 PM Utah (15-4) at Minnesota (8-9) 8:00 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Although he has never guided a team to an NBA championship, Jerry Sloan is on the verge of joining an elite coaching fraternity.

Sloan can become the fifth coach to win 1,000 regular-season contests Friday when the Utah Jazz attempt to maintain the league's best record against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Coaching his 19th season in Utah - the league's longest active stretch with the same team - Sloan can join Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley and Larry Brown in the 1,000-victory club. He has more wins with one club (905), than any other coach in league history.

Utah has 10 of 11 home games this season and has a 3 1/2-game lead over the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Northwest Division. The Jazz have won all 11 games this season in which they have shot at least 50 percent from the floor.

Carlos Boozer scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Mehmet Okur added 17 and 13 for Utah, which shot nearly 51 percent (39-of-77) in Monday's 101-88 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Looking to return to the .500 mark, Minnesota has won two straight games and six of nine. However, the Timberwolves are ranked 29th in the league in offense (92.1) and have lost six of nine on the road.

Kevin Garnett scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Mike James added 19 points for Minnesota, which allowed just 15 second-quarter points in Wednesday's 90-84 victory over the Houston Rockets.

The Jazz have won the last three encounters with the Timberwolves, including a 103-95 victory on April 7.