After stumbling on the road against Minnesota on Sunday, the Jazz will attempt to regroup at home Monday against Washington. The safety net of a 32-4 record at home has been a theme of their season so far.
The Jazz beat the Wizards 96-87 on Feb. 1 in Washington, although the Wizards played without Caron Butler or Gilbert Arenas, both of whom were injured. Jazz forward Carlos Boozer struggled all night, finishing with just four points and eight rebounds. It will be the last stop on a five-game trip for Washington, which beat Seattle and Sacramento, as well as the second game of a back-to-back set after playing the L.A. Lakers on Sunday night.
The availability of Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer is still uncertain for the Jazz. Kirilenko, who is wearing a walking boot, is questionable after sitting out Sunday's game with a bruised right calf.
Okur's return is a possibility after he skipped the trip to Minnesota following a recurrence of a stomach virus. Brewer, meanwhile, suffered a strained groin in the third quarter of the loss to Minnesota and will be a game-time decision.
TIMBERWOLVES 110, JAZZ 103: For the second time this season, the Timberwolves stunned the Jazz at Target Center. Minnesota came into Sunday with the Western Conference's second-worst record while the Jazz were just two games out of the top spot.
The Timberwolves essentially won the game with a late hustle play. After Ryan Gomes missed a jumper, Kirk Snyder batted the rebound and Rashad McCants saved the ball from going out of bounds along the sideline.
Given a second chance, the Timberwolves capitalized as Marko Jaric drove and hit Snyder with a pass. The former Jazz guard drove baseline and scored as part of a three-point play to put Minnesota ahead 104-98 with 44.2 seconds left.
Snyder was one of six Minnesota players to score in double-figures, finishing with 10 points off the bench. The Jazz played without Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur and suffered their second road loss to the lowly Timberwolves in 34 days.
