Utah beat Timberwolves to keep hopes alive

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AFP) –

Utah Jazz‘s Al Jefferson is pictured during an NBA game in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 9, 2013. Utah kept their playoff hopes alive as Jefferson scored 22 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Jazz to a 96-80 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Utah kept their playoff hopes alive as Al Jefferson scored 22 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Jazz to a 96-80 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Mo Williams finished with 15 points and seven assists Monday while Randy Foye chipped in 14 points for Utah, who have won four of their last five National Basketball Association contests.

The Jazz are now one game behind the the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Utah must win Wednesday’s game at Memphis and hope that Los Angeles loses to Houston on Wednesday in order to make it to the postseason. Utah holds the tiebreaker over the Lakers by virtue of winning the season series.

Derrick Williams scored 18 points for the Timberwolves, who were looking to finish over .500 at the Target Center for the first time since the 2005-06.

Dante Cunningham and J.J. Barea came off the bench to score 12 and 11 points, for the ‘Wolves who have lost four of their last five.

The Jazz 16-2 run to open the contest. They gave up the first basket of the game but never trailed after that.

Minnesota cut the deficit to 26-18 by the end of the first quarter but the Jazz led by eight, 49-41, at the half.

The Jazz’s third quarter was highlighted by two runs. They opened the third with a 8-2 run then Utah had another 10-2 run late in the quarter to lead 71-60 entering the fourth.

Leading 77-68 with just over eight minutes left in the fourth, Foye drilled a three-pointer to start a 15-2 run and the Jazz had a 92-70 lead with less than three minutes to go.

The Jazz have swept the four-game season series with Minnesota and have won five straight and seven of eight from the ‘Wolves. Minnesota has taken two of four against Utah at home.