Game Preview #70 – Timberwolves vs. Jazz

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz
Date: March 18th, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeartwork Radio

For one evening not less than, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to drag themselves again from the sting.

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With phrase breaking Monday evening that Anthony Edwards would miss the sport in opposition to Phoenix after which the much more regarding follow-up that the absence might stretch one to 2 weeks, Tuesday evening had all of the makings of a recreation that might ship a season spiraling. The Wolves entered it already strolling the tightrope within the Western Conference standings, with the Suns lurking immediately beneath them and the play-in line looming dangerously shut. Lose that recreation, and all of a sudden Phoenix is ​​proper again within the combine, Minnesota’s margin for error is principally gone, and the entire unhealthy vibes from the previous week get amplified. Win it, and the crew might purchase themselves some respiratory room and somewhat little bit of hope they’ll tread water till Ant returns.

Fortunately for the Wolves, they answered the bell.

Things did not begin in notably inspiring vogue. Minnesota got here out within the first quarter and defended like a crew that had not totally grasped the gravity of the second. Phoenix was attending to the rim at will. The Wolves have been coughing up turnovers. The effort degree and the execution each appeared shaky, and earlier than lengthy the Suns had pushed out to an 11-point lead. It had all of the indicators of a type of ugly nights the place the Wolves spend the primary half sleepwalking, then have to speak themselves into urgency after the injury is already performed. By the tip of the primary quarter, Minnesota had not less than stabilized sufficient offensively to climb again inside 39-36, however let’s be sincere, giving up 39 factors was not precisely the type of opening act that builds confidence.

But to the Wolves’ credit score, they really responded like a critical crew. Over the ultimate three quarters, Minnesota allowed simply 65 factors. That is a gigantic course correction and, frankly, precisely the type of defensive resilience this crew wanted to indicate if it needs to be taken significantly with out Edwards within the lineup. The recreation flipped as a result of the Wolves lastly began appearing like the larger, extra athletic, extra defensively imposing crew. The rim safety got here alive. The rotations tightened. Phoenix stopped getting these simple runway seems that had fueled the first-quarter emergence. Once the Wolves obtained the sport onto their phrases, the Suns merely didn’t have sufficient resistance to carry up over 48 minutes.

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One of the most important causes Minnesota survived after which took management was Julius Randle, who as soon as once more stepped into the position of offensive centerpiece and delivered precisely what the Wolves wanted. Randle completed with 32 factors, constructing on the constructive indicators he had proven in opposition to Oklahoma City and searching rather more just like the early-season model of himself than the post-All-Star man who had been drifting out and in of video games. He attacked the paint, scored with drive, and, most significantly, he appeared like he understood that with out Ant on the ground, this crew was going to wish him to be greater than only a complementary scorer. It wanted him to be the man.

Next up was Bones Highland, who gave Minnesota precisely the type of spark bench scorers are supposed to provide however so not often do on command. Bones poured in 22 factors, injecting life into the second unit and serving to preserve the offense afloat throughout stretches the place it would in any other case have slowed down. In a recreation the place Minnesota desperately wanted somebody apart from Randle to create and convert, Bones stepped in as a microwave scorer.

The frontcourt additionally rediscovered its id. Rudy Gobert, coming off a tough outing in opposition to the Thunder, reasserted himself across the basket and made the paint really feel like a restricted authorities zone. Gobert completed with 4 blocks, and he wasn’t alone. Naz Reid additionally had 4 blocks, giving Minnesota a mixed eight swats between its two most necessary inside defenders. More than the block totals themselves, it was the tone that mattered. The Wolves used their dimension, size, and rim safety to show the sport from a first-quarter monitor met right into a grind, and Phoenix by no means actually recovered as soon as that occurred.

There’s not a lot time to savor it, although, as a result of Utah is rolling into Target Center for the second evening of a back-to-back. Under regular circumstances, a house recreation in opposition to a depleted Jazz crew would possibly really feel like one you circle as a possible win and transfer on. But this Wolves crew has spent the season proving that no recreation is definitely simple in the event that they resolve to deal with it like a formality. And with Edwards nonetheless sidelined, nothing will get to be taken with no consideration.

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Utah, by all appearances, is actively angling for lottery place. They will probably be with out Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic. Keyonte George, who went on that scoring binge to steal the final recreation from Minnesota in Utah, is out as nicely. Ace Bailey is listed as questionable. On paper, it seems like a setup. On paper, the Wolves maintain a transparent expertise edge even with out their celebrity. On paper, this ought to be a “take care of business and move on” kind of evening.

But Wolves followers have seen sufficient “on paper” video games flip into disasters to know higher.

So with that, listed here are the keys to the sport.

#1 – The Wolves can not play with their meals.

This must be the theme of the evening. They can not have a look at Utah’s damage report and mentally chalk up the win earlier than the opening tip. That’s how unhealthy groups get confidence. That is how random position gamers begin feeling harmful. That is the way you get up halfway by means of the fourth quarter in a one-possession recreation questioning how the hell this occurred. Even a tanking crew nonetheless has NBA gamers, and people gamers would completely like to stroll into Target Center, get additional run, and show they belong. The Wolves have to choke this factor out early. Strong crew protection, good tempo, and centered execution must be current from the bounce so this recreation doesn’t grow to be a fourth-quarter survival check on drained legs.

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#2 – Dominate across the rim.

Phoenix got here in shorthanded within the frontcourt and the Wolves finally made them pay for it. Utah is bringing the same setup. This ought to be a recreation the place Gobert as soon as once more capabilities as a drive discipline across the basket. He must rebound, block pictures, and make each Jazz drive really feel like a nasty thought. Randle and Naz even have to hold over the physicality from the Suns recreation. If Minnesota’s huge three within the frontcourt treats this like a paint conflict, Utah merely shouldn’t have sufficient dimension or inside expertise to carry up over 4 quarters. This is a type of video games the place the Wolves have to look larger, stronger, and extra punishing than the opposite crew, just because they’re.

#3 – The ball motion has to proceed.

One of essentially the most attention-grabbing byproducts of Edwards being out was how prepared the Wolves have been to maneuver the ball and play crew offense. That’s not meant as some shot at Ant, as a result of everybody understands why he dominates the ball at occasions. He’s the star. He’s the bailout possibility. He’s the man who can rescue possessions when all the things else fails. But with him off the ground, the Wolves had no selection however to belief the go, belief one another, and preserve the offense from stagnating. That led to higher involvement from Bones and Ayo Dosunmu, and it gave the offense somewhat extra collective rhythm. That has to proceed. Against Utah, the Wolves can completely survive with out Edwards’ particular person offense in the event that they maximize possessions, create attractiveness, and stay unselfish.

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#4 – Clean up the turnovers.

The Wolves have been higher in opposition to Phoenix than that they had been in opposition to Oklahoma City, however solely as a result of it was practically mathematically unattainable to be worse. Sixteen turnovers continues to be too many. Without their finest participant, the Wolves can not afford handy away possessions and provides the opposite crew transition factors. Against a Jazz crew that should not be capable of generate a lot simple offense by itself, absolutely the worst factor Minnesota can do is gift-wrap alternatives. This is the place skilled basketball is available in. Take care of the ball. Finish defensive possessions. Hit your free throws. Don’t make life more durable than it must be. If the Wolves deal with the essential stuff, their expertise benefit ought to take over.

#5 – Julius Randle has to maintain being Big Julius.

This might be the most important swing issue throughout Edwards’ absence. Earlier within the season, when Ant missed time together with his foot points, Randle carried the scoring burden and appeared like a real offensive hub. Then he hit that post-All-Star funk and have become a shell of that man. The indicators in opposition to OKC have been encouraging, and the efficiency in opposition to Phoenix was greater than encouraging and precisely what Minnesota wanted. Now comes the problem of doing it once more. Randle has to maintain scoring effectively, preserve making the suitable play when assist comes, and preserve balancing his personal offense with the playmaking factor that makes him so harmful. When he attracts defenders and kicks to open teammates as an alternative of stopping the offense, Minnesota turns into a lot more durable to protect. Without Edwards, that model of Randle is not only helpful, it is important.

This is the type of recreation that’s simple to dismiss as a result of it in all probability will not be fairly and it definitely will not really feel gratifying. But these are the sorts of video games that decide whether or not you keep nicely above the play-in line or spend the final two weeks of the season sweating each scoreboard replace. Tuesday in opposition to Phoenix was a must-win, and the Wolves handled it like one after the primary quarter. Wednesday in opposition to Utah must be approached the identical method. Then you come Portland on Friday. These are the video games Minnesota has to financial institution, particularly whereas Edwards is sidelined, particularly earlier than the schedule stiffens once more, and particularly as a result of they’ve already made this season more durable on themselves than it wanted to be.

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Nobody is asking for artwork right here. The expectation is not some stunning, flowing masterpiece of offensive basketball. This crew simply must be mature, centered, {and professional}. It must be a type of nights the place the perfect crew comes out, takes care of enterprise, and strikes on.

Given this crew’s historical past, that also appears like an even bigger ask than it ought to.

But if the Wolves are critical about holding their floor within the West whereas Ant is out, it is precisely what they should do.