After a strong comeback victory against the Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves want to extend their winning streak to eight. The next game is the Utah Jazz, who will visit Target Center on a huge eight-game losing streak.
It is a matchup of two polar opposites because the Timberwolves are the hottest team in the Western Conference, while the Jazz are the worst-performing team.
The Minnesota Timberwolves deserve some praise for what they have done in recent weeks. A seven-game winning streak is not a joke, especially when it involves big victories against the Magic and the Denver Nuggets inspired by players like Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Now, they are playing against one of the bottom-dwellers of the league. However, the NBA is always full of surprises, so Minnesota must not be complacent when they welcome head coach Will Hardy and his plucky underdog squad.
Timberwolves this month:
1st in net rating
3rd in offense
6th in defense
7-0. pic.twitter.com/xFZCPwhEIK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 15, 2025
Related: Julius Randle Has Cemented Himself as Minnesota's X-Factor
The Jazz Can Be Surprising Against the Timberwolves
Since both teams play in the Northwest Division, it is obvious that they have games more often than most teams. Across the four scheduled games between Minnesota and Utah, they have already played two games against each other. One of them was a 117-116 win for the Jazz, a surprising result.
This game could be a trap for the Timberwolves because the Jazz can have one of their best days. With Lauri Markkanen averaging 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, he continues to be a big threat against Minnesota.
Collin Sexton is another threat for the Jazz, scoring 18 points and dishing out 4.2 assists per game. He is the best guard on the Utah roster, but they are still deep, considering Jordan Clarkson is still their sixth man.
Minnesota is the overwhelming favorite ahead of this game, but they should never be complacent. Any NBA team can still win a game even if they are the worst-performing one in the league. Anthony Edwards leads the team, while Julius Randle will be his primary support.
Coach Chris Finch must encourage his team not to play with low energy because that was almost their downfall against the Magic. The fourth quarter against Orlando was promising because everyone was hustling for the ball and playing well on defense, inspiring their offense to perform better.
ANTHONY EDWARDS ELEVATES FOR THE EMPHATIC POSTER
Timberwolves-Jazz | Live on the NBA App
https://t.co/giqnSGLWqtpic.twitter.com/CcSJsLs2sk
— NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2024
Injury Report for Timberwolves vs Jazz
Like the two previous games against Orlando and Denver, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a clean injury report. This is perfect timing because the team wants to keep pushing this winning streak, so having everyone healthy is significant for their plans for the final month of the regular season.
On the other hand, the Jazz have some significant injuries that could impact the game. John Collins, one of the team's star players is sidelined with a left lateral ankle sprain. Utah's best playmaker Keyonte George is also out with a foot issue. Lastly, Taylor Hendricks remains sidelined from his broken leg back in November.
This will be a fun game for both teams, especially if the Timberwolves can meet the expectations set for them. Utah will not go down without a fight, so this game will be a must-watch for the fans because it could be another chapter in this season-best winning streak for Minnesota. The game will be played at Target Center at 6 pm on March 15.
Related: The Timberwolves are Peaking at the Right Time Under Chris Finch
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This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM.