Timberwolves Hand Jazz Eighth Straight Loss In Blowout
Jan 30, 2025, 10:19 PM | Updated: Jan 31, 2025, 9:35 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz suffered their eighth straight loss in a blowout 138-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards put on a show for the Delta Center crowd scoring 36 points, dishing out 11 assists, and blocking three shots in 35 minutes.
Keyonte George scored 23 points on a perfect 7-7 shooting off the bench to lead the Jazz.
Game Blog: Edwards, Timberwolves Steamroll Jazz
Blowouts Beginning To Pile Up For Jazz
While the Jazz had threaded a narrow needed over the first half of the season, managing to keep most games competitive, while still losing frequently enough to stay in contention for a top draft pick, they may have finally let go of the rope.
The Jazz have lost each of their last four games by double-digits, matching the total of 10+ point losses they’d had in their previous 16 outings.
The blowout losses coincide with an uptick in the difficulty of their opponents having faced the Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves in their most recent outings.
I think there’s a chance we start to see some tired legs from the Jazz youngsters as we approach the All-Star break, and soon again after.
Some of these guys are about to hit the same minutes total they played in college and we haven’t even hit the NBA’s playoff push.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 29, 2025
The Jazz have also struggled to play a full 48 minutes of competitive basketball after their stronger-than-expected performance in a nine-point loss to the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since that loss last Wednesday, the Jazz have been outscored 502-429, and have an average margin of defeat of over 18 points.
Jazz coach Will Hardy has shuffled the team’s lineup around over the last four games, including moving George to the bench in favor of rookie Isaiah Collier, while mixing and matching John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler as they’ve returned from injury.
“It’s not as easy as just plug and play when guys are coming back from being injured and sick and not playing,” Hardy explained. So, there’s a little bit of rhythm that’s lost in those moments and guys taking different roles.”
While the Jazz will have the advantage of sleeping in their own beds over the next week to close the four-game homestand, they won’t get any significant rest until the All-Star break beginning on February 14.
Antman was all about BUSINESS tonight.
🐜 36 PTS (66.7 FG%)
🐜 11 AST
🐜 6 REB
🐜 3 BLKThe @Timberwolves win their 5th in a row! pic.twitter.com/0JKwipZlFl
— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2025
The Jazz will play eight games over the next 15 days, with each game coming against an opponent with a record of .500 or better.
Though the Jazz have largely avoided feeling the full pain of being a rebuilding team so far this season, it seems their luck may have finally run out.
“Nobody feels sorry for us,” Hardy added. “We don’t feel sorry for ourselves, and we just keep pushing.”
Randle Injury Could Hurt Timberwolves, Help Jazz
Timberwolves forward Julius Randle suffered a groin strain late in the first half against the Jazz and was quickly ruled out for the remainder game.
The three-time All-Star took off for a layup, landed awkwardly, and immediately knew something was wrong as he limped to the locker room.
It’s an unfortunate loss for the Timberwolves, but one Jazz fans may want to keep an eye on in the coming days.
Julius Randle immediately went to the locker room after seeming to hurt his groin on this play. pic.twitter.com/PkKz6aB13b
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) January 31, 2025
The Jazz own the Timberwolves’ first-round draft pick this season, and though Minnesota is riding a season-best five-game winning streak, sitting just a half-game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the sixth-seed in the West, they’re only 2.5 games ahead of the 11th seeded Golden State Warriors.
Though Randle has been far from perfect for the Timberwolves this year, he ranks third on the team in plus-minus, and second in scoring.
Minnesota has faced significant offensive struggles this season, and if they lose Randle for any extended period, those issues might only become magnified.
The Timberwolves likely won’t offer an update on Randle until Friday at the earliest, but his ability to return to the floor could be the difference between the Jazz adding a second lottery pick, or landing a pick in the 20s.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will host the Orlando Magic on Saturday at 3 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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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, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
