Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves
Monday, April 15, 2013, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ROOT-RM, FSN-North, NBA-LP
Target Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Opening Line: Utah -2 1/2
Current Line: Utah -3 1/2
Opening Total: 200
Current Total: 199
Opening Money Line: Jazz -150 / Timberwolves +130
Current Money Line: Jazz -165 / Timberwolves +145
The 42-38 Utah Jazz are a game and a half behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz must win Monday night in Minnesota against the 30-50 Timberwolves or the the Lakers will clinch the spot. Utah has two games left, and must win them both and hope the Lakers lose at home to the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. The Jazz hold the tiebreaker over the Lakers. Whichever team gets the last spot will most likely face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The Jazz and Timberwolves played Friday night in Salt Lake City, with Utah winning 107-100. Utah center Al Jefferson had a career night with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jefferson hit a 14 footer with 39 seconds left to give Utah a 101-98 lead. Jazz forward Derrick Favors blocked Timberwolves’ guard J.J. Barea potential game tying 3 pointer. The Jazz would make their free throws to seal the much needed win. Utah has won all three meetings this season with Minnesota, including 106-84 in Salt Lake City January 2 and 97-93 in Minneapolis February 13. Utah hasn’t played since Friday night but Minnesota won at home against the Phoenix Suns Saturday night 105-93 to snap a 3 game losing streak.
Utah is coached by Tyrone Corbin. The Jazz are 41-38-1 ATS and the total is 39-40-1 this season. Utah is being outscored 98.5-98.4 this season. The Jazz are shooting 45.5% from the field and 36.7% from 3 point range. Utah is 12th or better both categories. The Jazz make 76.3% of their free throws. Utah averages 42 rebounds a game and give up 40.6 per game. The Jazz are #7 in rebounds allowed. Utah opponents are shooting 46% from the field and 37.4% from 3 point range. The Jazz average 22.8 assists, 8.4 steals, 6.3 blocks, and 14.3 turnovers.
Jefferson averages 17.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1 steal, and 1.1 blocks per game. Power forward Paul Millsap averages 14.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block a game. Shooting guard Gordon Hayward averages 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3 assists. Point guard Mo Williams averages 12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. Guard Randy Foye averages 10.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2 assists. Favors averages 9.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Marvin Williams, Alec Burks, DeMarre Carroll, Jamaal Tinsley, and Earl Watson make up the rest of the rotation. Center Enes Kanter is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Guard Kevin Murphy is questionable with an infection.
Minnesota is coached by Rick Adelman. The Timberwolves are 37-40-3 ATS and the total is 36-42-2 this season. Minnesota is being outscored 98-96 this season. The Timberwolves are shooting 43.9% from the field and 30.5% from 3 point range. Minnesota is #24 in field goal percentage and last in the league in 3 point shooting. The Timberwolves make 74.2% of their free throws. Minnesota averages 42 rebounds a game and gives up 42.2 per game. Timberwolves’ opponents are shooting 46.8% from the field and 37.4% from 3 point range. Minnesota averages 22.4 assists, 8.5 steals, 4.8 blocks, and 14.2 turnovers.
Forward Kevin Love is out for the season with a knee injury. He averaged 18 points and 14 rebounds a game. Center Nikola Pekovic averages 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. He is questionable with a calf injury. Forward Andrei Kirilenko averages 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Forward Derrick Williams averages 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Guard Luke Ridnour averages 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1 steal a game. J.J. Barea averages 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Point guard Ricky Rubio averages 10.7 points, 4 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Chase Budinger, Alexey Shved, Dante Cunningham, Josh Howard, Mickael Gelabale, and Greg Stiemsma make up the rest of the rotation. Guards Brandon Roy and Malcolm Lee are both out for the season with knee injuries.
Utah is 5-0 ATS in road games, and 4-1 on two days rest, 7-2 after allowing 100 points or more, 10-3 when the opponent scores more than 100 points, 6-2 after failing to cover, 9-3 against teams with losing records, 9-4 overall, and 0-4 against Northwest teams. The Jazz have covered 6 of the last 7 against the Timberwolves. The over is 21-6-1 in the last 28 games in this series and 5-1-1 in Minneapolis.
Minnesota is 4-0 ATS when the opponent allowed 100 points or more in the previous game, 5-1 on one day rest, 4-1-1 against teams with losing road records, 7-2 when the opponent scores more than 100 points, 9-4 against Western Conference teams, 7-17-2 against teams with winning straight up records, 2-5-1 in Monday games, 1-3-1 after a straight up win of 10 points or more, 5-16-1 after a straight up win, and 2-7 against Northwest teams. The home team has covered 9 of the last 12 in this series. The Timberwolves are 7-3 in the last 10 against Utah in Minneapolis.
The Jazz need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and they should beat a terrible Timberwolves team even on the road. If they don’t they don’t deserve to go to the playoffs. It won’t be easy but the Jazz win.
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