The Utah Jazz, clinging desperately to their playoff hopes, face the Minnesota Timberwolves for a second consecutive game later this evening. Start time in tonight’s meeting between the Jazz and Timberwolves is set for 8:00pm ET at the Target Center. The latest NBA Odds have Utah listed as a -3 against the spread road favorite and the Over/Under set at 199 points. The Timberwolves are drawing +135 odds ($100 wins $135) to end the Jazz postseason aspirations.
Utah entered Friday’s home showdown with Minnesota knowing it would, in all likelihood, need a win to preserve its playoff hopes, and it play that way for the most part. The Jazz shot 58.3 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from beyond the arc, helping them to a 107-100 win at the EnergySolutions Arena.
Center Al Jefferson starred for Utah as he finished the game with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.
The Jazz, who remain 1.5 games behind the eighth place Lakers in the Western Conference standings, know for certain a win is needed this evening if they hope to have any chance at all of taking L.A.’s playoff spot.
Utah must win tonight and on Wednesday night at Memphis while having the Lakers drop their season finale against Houston (Wednesday) in order to move past Los Angeles.
Minnesota, meanwhile, will close out its home schedule tonight as it chases its 31st win of the season (regular season finale is on Wednesday in San Antonio). The Timberwolves, who bounced back from Friday’s loss at Utah with a 105-93 home win over the Suns, is 30-50 overall and 20-20 at the Target Center.
Notable Trends: The Timberwolves (1-6 in their last seven meetings with Utah) are 1-12 straight up and 3-10 against the spread over the last five years playing as a home dog off of one day rest and a home win.
Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Odds:
Utah Jazz -3 (-110), Over 199 (-110), -155 (Moneyline)
Minnesota Timberwolves +3 (-110), Under 199 (-110), +135 (Moneyline)
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