Timberwolves down Jazz in Utah: Takeaways from Minnesota’s third straight win

The Timberwolves continued their roll Monday in Utah downing the Jazz for the second time in four days This one was more competitive than Friday s drubbing but Monday s - accomplishment in Salt Lake City was calm nonetheless with Minnesota seizing control in the third quarter and never surrendered it from there Here are takeaways from Minnesota s latest win Another avalanche Minnesota s victories of late have all featured signature quarters in which the Wolves pulled away A - second quarter in Sacramento on Sunday provided Minnesota with plenty of cushion Friday s - first quarter ended all doubt against Utah The Wolves utilized a - third quarter in Brooklyn to down the Nets and outscored Charlotte - in the third nine days ago It was again the third frame where Minnesota did the bulk of its damage on Monday as the Wolves outscored Utah - in the quarter to turn a halftime deficit into a -point lead Anthony Edwards was the star of the run He scored points in the third quarter alone going for from the field while also setting a defensive tone Edwards finished with points six assists and six rebounds McDaniels run Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels posts up against Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk during the first half of an NBA basketball competition Monday Nov in Salt Lake City AP Photo Tyler Tate Jaden McDaniels has been a critical offensive piece for Minnesota this season but he was quiet for three quarters in Utah The forward was heard from in the final frame McDaniels scored of his points in the fourth quarter all in a five-minute span that helped Minnesota keep Utah at an arm s length Offense in different solutions Minnesota entered the challenge as the NBA s best shooting squad leading the league in true-shooting percentage and effective field-goal percentage The shots didn t fall at the same clip Monday as the Wolves shot from the field and just from distance But the Wolves ascertained offense in other techniques tallying points in the paint while going for from the free-throw line Julius Randle was again the conductor of Minnesota s offensive show He had points on the strength of a -for- showing at the free-throw line to go with eight rebounds and seven assists Minnesota won Randle s minutes by points Force deficient On the second-half of a back to back the Timberwolves didn t have the same bite they displayed in their two previous victories The defensive intensity was evident in spurts but not as consistent throughout And Minnesota was beaten up on the glass by Utah who tallied offensive rebounds that resulted in second-chance points The Wolves best brand of basketball involved tenacious defense that generates opportunities in transition going the other way It s highly effective but also draining It s also realizable a lack of legs contributed to the subpar shooting performance That s something to watch over the weekend when Minnesota hosts Sacramento on Friday and then welcomes the Denver Nuggets to Target Center on Saturday in a big-time Western Conference duel Minnesota now gets three days off a rare break in the grueling NBA regular season before that NBA Cup group play tilt with the Kings on Friday