The Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves collide at the Target Center on Saturday night.

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have yet to really get going this season and they will be hoping to bounce back after coming up short to the Magic in a 115-113 loss on Thursday. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 22 points on nine of 17 shooting, Jordan Clarkson added 21 points with six assists while John Collins chipped in with 20 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the Jazz shot 46 percent from the field and 12 of 33 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to cut a late 10-point deficit to just one point, only to run out of time in the end. Clarkson had a rough night as he shot just five of 20 from the field while committing six turnovers. 

Utah Jazz Team Facts

• The Jazz have lost each of their last nine games as road underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• The Jazz have covered the spread in each of their last six road games following a loss.
• Seven of the Jazz’s last eight games have gone OVER the total points line.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been in decent shape as they’ve split their first four games and they will be looking to stay hot after taking down the Nuggets in a 110-89 upset win on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards led the team with 24 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points with eight rebounds and four assists while Mike Conley chipped in with 17 points and six assists. As a team, the Timberwolves shot 45 percent from the field and eight of 21 from the 3-point line as they took it to the Nuggets and dominated the first half to take a 19-point lead into halftime and they didn’t take their foot off the gas to finish with their best win of the season so far. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Team Facts

• The Timberwolves have won 12 of their last 13 night games against Northwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
• The road team has covered the spread in seven of the last eight games between the Jazz and Timberwolves.
• Seven of the last eight games between the Jazz and Timberwolves have gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Timberwolves rank 1st in the league for opponent points per game this season (100.8).
• The Timberwolves rank 1st in the league for opponent free throws made per game this season (10.8).
• The Jazz rank 2nd in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (14.7).
• The Jazz rank 29th in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (7.5).

Peter’s Pick

The Jazz have been disappointing so far this season and their confidence took another hit after coming up painfully short to the Magic on Thursday, while the Timberwolves will be coming into this one with plenty of momentum after blowing past the defending champion Nuggets in a big win on Wednesday. The line is a hit heftier than I would like, but the Timberwolves are clearly the team playing the better basketball at the moment and I think they take care of business at home in this spot.