The Utah Jazz (38 - 38) defeated the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves (25 - 51) 98 - 85 on Friday at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz remain tangled with the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets in a three - way battle for the last two playoff spots in the West. The Jazz hold the eighth and final playoff spot, now one game ahead of the ninth - place Rockets. The Jazz led by two after a tight first half but then dominated the second half by out - scoring the Timberwolves 47 - 36 en route to their 24th win at home. Gordon Hayward led the way with 22 points (8 - 15 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 5 - 7 FT), five rebounds, three assists and two steals, in 36 minutes. Rudy Gobert put in work as he gobbled up 14 rebounds to go a long with 10 points, in 36 minutes. Rookie Trey Lyles was huge in the absence of Derrick Favors, who was out with a sore knee. Lyles finished with 18 points (7 - 16 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 4 FT), five rebounds, one steal, one assist and one blocked shot, in 35 minutes. The Jazz shot 53 percent from the field and 36 percent from long range, as they cruised to victory. Andrew Wiggins was the high - point man for the Timberwolves, who have now lost two in a row, as he finished with 24 points (11 - 21 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 0 - 2 FT), along with two rebounds, one assist and one steal, in 37 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied a double - double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists and one blocked shot, in 35 minutes, while Nemanja Bjelica added 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists, in 35 minutes off the bench. The only other player to score in double figures for Minnesota was Shabazz Muhammad, who chipped in 10. Next, the Timberwolves will look to influence the race - for - eighth as they host the Mavericks on Sunday. The Jazz will visit Phoenix to challenge the Suns on Sunday.
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