The Minnesota Timberwolves have been intent on improving their playoff seeding as much as possible in the final month of the regular season.
The Utah Jazz seem equally as determined to improve their chances in the NBA draft lottery.
Teams on contrasting arcs will meet when the Timberwolves (39-29) tip off against the Jazz (15-52) on Sunday evening in Minneapolis.
Minnesota has won seven straight, including a 118-111 comeback win against the Orlando Magic on Friday night. It is the longest winning streak of the season for the Timberwolves, who have surged to seventh place in the Western Conference.
“We’ve matured as a team. We’re still maturing as a team,” the Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo said.
“We’re more comfortable with each other and what everybody’s good at. (We’re) understanding that one mistake or one bad play from somebody is not the end of the world. It’s all about staying together.”
Meanwhile, the best players on the Jazz often are staying on the bench.
Utah already has been docked $100,000 by the NBA for violating the league’s player participation policy for keeping Lauri Markkanen out for nine games on the injury report. The Jazz tried a different approach in their most recent game Friday as Markkanen sat the entire second half and Walker Kessler, who was not listed on the injury report, watched the entire game in his uniform on the bench.
Jazz coach Will Hardy has tried to reframe the apparent tanking attempt as a way to evaluate younger players who have not played as much this season.
What is Hardy looking to see from the players who do take the court?
“It’s about understanding the things that are important to us as a team and as an organization,” Hardy said. “Can you go out and execute the basics of the game plan?
“It’s not about shot making. It’s not about points. … I care about the execution defensively, and it’s about team defense and the things that you can control.”
Utah will face a tough test on defense as it tries to stop the Timberwolves, who are led by Anthony Edwards. The 23-year-old guard is averaging 27.2 points on 44.2-percent shooting this season, including 40.6 percent from 3-point range.
Julius Randle ranks second on the Timberwolves with 18.9 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds, while Naz Reid contributes 14.7 points and 6.1 boards.
Markkanen leads the Jazz with 19.1 points per game. Second-leading scorer John Collins (19.0 points) is out with an ankle sprain, but Collin Sexton can chip in, with 18.0 points per game.
This is the third of four meetings between the Timberwolves and Jazz during the regular season.
Minnesota won the first matchup 138-113 on Jan. 30 in Utah. The teams met again four weeks later, when the Jazz held on for a 117-116 win on their home court.
