Blog: Timberwolves steamroll Jazz In Second Half
Nov 4, 2023, 8:23 PM | Updated: Nov 6, 2023, 11:22 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz hung tough with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half but were easily dismissed in the second half falling 123-95.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points while the Timberwolves were led by Anthony Edwards with 31.
With the loss, the Jazz fell to 2-5 on the year, including 0-3 on the road.
First Quarter
Slow start from the Jazz who fell behind 15-8 four minutes into the game, very little resistance from the defense.
Zeroes across the board from Walker Kessler during his first stint on the floor. No rebounds, points, field goal attempts, blocks, or steals.
Markkanen with 13 first-quarter points 👀#TakeNote https://t.co/g985G2knSP
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 5, 2023
Lauri Markkanen continues to play great basketball early in the year, the Jazz are going to have to decide how long they’re willing to extend this rebuild rather than surrounding him with high-level talent.
The Jazz got red-hot from three late in the first, knocking down five total in the quarter, and trailed the Timberwolves 29=27.
Second Quarter
Keyonte George is only 1-3 from the floor early in the game, but he’s a team-high +10 in 11 minutes, and the ball really moves when he’s on the floor.
After a difficult first quarter Talen Horton-Tucker found his rhythm in the second attacking the paint and finding his teammates in the corners.
Anthony Edwards is an elite defensive player, pretty unusual for such a young guard, but it gives him a chance to be one of the best players in the league at his size with his offensive prowess.
Sipping tea at the end of the first ☕#TakeNote https://t.co/W6scDeuKB8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 5, 2023
Horton-Tucker fell in love with seeing the ball go in and proceeded to shoot several bad shots in a row without looking to pass, finishing the first half shooting 4-13.
Rough first half from Kelly Olynyk whose engagement was low on the offensive end.
Jazz gave up a 15-5 run late in the first half and trailed 55-5 at the break.
Third Quarter
Horton-Tucker throws it DOWN on Rudy Gobert. Between getting dunked don by Markkanen last season in Minnesota, then getting booed late in his visit to Utah, Gobert has not had the best experience with his former team over the last 16 months.
THT 🔨 on Gobert 👀#TakeNotehttps://t.co/znPekxG7aZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 5, 2023
A lack of touches for Markkanen in the third quarter led to a 15-2 run from the Timberwolves who are living at the free-throw line off of bad liveball turnovers.
Kris Dunn appears to be out of the rotation for hte Jazz, while Collin Sexton struggled scoring five points and committing three turnovers in just 11 minutes.
Jazz outscored 37-27 in the fourth and trailed the Timberwolves 92-77 going into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
George has struggled with turnovers early in the season when pressure is applied. Former Jazz guard Mike Conley picked his pocket at mid-court and easily strolled in for a layup to extend the lead to 21.
The Jazz were able to get stops in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t put the ball in the hoop and weren’t ever able to make up ground on the Timberwolves.
Blocker Kessler 🖐️#TakeNote #UTAvsMIN https://t.co/6WArC53AaO
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 5, 2023
Jazz never showed up in the second half and were blown out 68-45 in the final two periods.
Timberwolves crush the Jazz 123-95.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
