NBA Odds: Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Frank Martin
Al Jefferson spent three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves from 2007-10 and carried the offensive load, averaging 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds in 208 games.
Jefferson was traded by Minnesota to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kosta Koufos and two first-round draft picks on July 13, 2010. A new star has emerged in Minnesota since Jefferson’s departure, and the two big men will do battle as the teams face off Saturday night in Utah. Timberwolves sensation Kevin Love ranks in the top five in league scoring and rebounding. He drained a three-pointer at the buzzer on Friday night to lift the Timberwolves to a 101-98 victory.
Love finished with yet another double-double, netting 17 points and hauling in 14 rebounds. Minnesota is coming off consecutive home wins over Sacramento and Detroit. They haven’t won three straight since a four-game stretch from Jan. 29, to Feb. 6, 2010.
- Minnesota Timberwolves @ Utah Jazz
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 21, 2012
Where: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ROOT (Utah)
The Jazz have opened as 7.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
Minnesota Timberwolves (7-8): Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio has added some flare to a Timberwolves team that hasn’t given fans anything to get excited about in a long time. Rubio leads the league in alley-oop assists and is among the league leaders in offensive fouls and charges drawn. Rubio swiped a season-high six steals in Wednesday's victory over Detroit, the highest total by a Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett picked off seven at the L.A. Clippers on Jan. 27, 2007.
Utah Jazz (9-5): The Jazz suffered a 94-91 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Jefferson led the way for Utah with 22 points and Paul Millsap recorded his fifth double-double in the losing cause. Utah had won three straight prior to falling to the defending NBA champions. Eight of the 13 players on the Jazz roster are 26 years old or younger. Enes Kanter ranks second among NBA rookies in rebounding.
1. Utah is 60-31 all-time against Minnesota with a 34-11 record at home.
2. Jazz are third in the league in blocked shots with 6.28 per game. Al Jefferson leads the team with an average of 1.6 blocks per game.
3. Love has double-doubles in all 15 games he's played this season. Orlando's Dwight Howard is the next closest with 11 double-doubles.
NBA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Jazz 89, Timberwolves 84
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al jefferson - dwight howard - energysolutions arena - enes kanter - kevin garnett - kevin love - kosta koufos - minnesota timberwolves - paul millsap - ricky rubio