Timberwolves overpower Jazz as Utah's losing streak continues

MINNEAPOLIS – The Utah Jazz entered Sunday night's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves looking to snap an eight-game skid and earn their first road win since early January.

Instead, the Jazz ran into a dominant performance from Anthony Edwards and a Minnesota team firing on all cylinders, ultimately falling 128-102 at the Target Center.

Despite a solid first-half showing from Lauri Markkanen, who finished with 16 points at the break, the Jazz couldn't keep pace with the Timberwolves' relentless attack.

Minnesota's defense — ranked sixth in the league — was imposing, but it was their offense that set the tone early. Edwards exploded for 25 points in the first half alone, putting the Jazz in a deep hole they could never climb out of in the end.

"Edwards is very explosive from the 3-point line," Jazz head coach Will Hardy ahead of the game. "I don't think we can go into tonight's game with the mindset that he's not going to shoot 3s."

Hardy's words rang true as Edwards torched Utah from beyond the arc, finishing with a game-high 41 points, including five 3-pointers.

By halftime, Minnesota led 62-51, and the momentum only swung further in their favor in the third quarter.

The Jazz struggled to generate consistent offense, and Minnesota capitalized with inside dominance from Julius Randle (11 points, 4 assists), Jaden McDaniels (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks).

Gobert, facing his former team, anchored the Wolves' defense and limited Utah's opportunities in the paint.

For the Jazz, Collin Sexton provided scoring with 22 points, but the young Utah squad couldn't sustain runs long enough to cut into Minnesota's lead. Utah's struggles continued on both ends of the court, as turnovers and missed defensive assignments allowed the Timberwolves to stretch the lead to 26 by the end of the third.

The fourth quarter saw a brief spark from Utah's bench; but by then, it was too late. Minnesota cruised to its eighth straight victory, while the Jazz extended their losing streak to nine games.

With Utah officially eliminated from playoff contention, Hardy emphasized the team's long-term focus.

"Every night is going to be a little different," he said. "It helps build the team mentality that not everything is about me. We're going to do what's best for the team."

The Jazz, now 15-53 on the season, will look to regroup as they continue a tough stretch, while Minnesota inches closer to securing a guaranteed playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference race.

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