Wolves 115, Jazz 100: Yet Another Complete Performance

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Minnesota Timberwolves found a way to push through and defeat the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

Every time the Wolves would go on a bit of a run, the Jazz would claw their way right back into the game. It was not until late in the third quarter that Minnesota would comfortably pull away. This allowed the Wolves to salvage their showing against a team that came into the game at 1-8.

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I’ve mentioned this in my recaps before, but in the past, a game like this could be considered a trap game. Playing against a team that is languishing in the standings is usually a recipe for disaster. Early on in the season, it would seem that Minnesota is doing a great job of rewriting that narrative.

The Wolves did what they were supposed to do by beating a team at the bottom of the standings. We shouldn’t take that for granted. I doubt any long-term fans will.

The victory over Utah was on-brand for the 2026-27 Timberwolves, featuring a slew of highlights and standout performances from many of the players who have been ascending in the absence of Anthony Edwards and Donte Divincenzo. Here are a few game notes that stood out to me.

Trey Lyles might be legit

I’ve been apprehensive about saying that Trey Lyles is going to be a meaningful part of this team. I mean, the guy was overseas last year. Yet, as is becoming tradition, Minnesota is looking like the premier rehabilitation hub for players who are looking for newfound life in their careers. Lyles is fitting right in.

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The counting stats don’t jump off the page tonight with just nine points (3/6 shooting, 1/3 from deep), six boards, two assists, and a steal across 21 minutes of play. What jumps out instead is his +29 across those limited minutes in what amounted to a 15-point win. The guy can play, and it’s fair to wonder at this point why he wasn’t in the NBA last year.

Many folks I have talked to have branded Lyles as the team’s new Kyle Anderson, and even that comparison may be underselling his impact at this point in the season. Lyles is connecting lineup combinations in a way that we never saw with Anderson. He fits into any…

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Publish date : 2026-11-09 05:45:00

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