John Collins delivered a season-high 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Utah Jazz edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-116 on Friday night. Walker Kessler’s go-ahead dunk with 9.7 seconds left sealed the victory, snapping Utah’s six-game losing streak against Minnesota.
Collins was dominant, sparking a 27-4 run in the third quarter that turned an 11-point deficit into an 83-71 lead. His back-to-back baskets ignited the rally, showcasing his impact after missing three games with back soreness.
Brice Sensabaugh added 17 points, while rookie Isaiah Collier dished out a career-high 14 assists for the Jazz. Utah’s balanced attack and clutch execution down the stretch proved too much for the Timberwolves, who played without suspended star Anthony Edwards.
Naz Reid led Minnesota with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalen McDaniels contributed 20 points and 10 boards. Despite their efforts, the Timberwolves couldn’t overcome a cold shooting stretch in the third quarter, missing 12 of 14 shots during Utah’s decisive run.
Minnesota briefly regained the lead late in the fourth quarter, going up 116-115 on Donte DiVincenzo’s three-pointer with 1:31 remaining. However, Kessler’s dunk and a defensive stop secured the win for Utah.
The Jazz improved to 15-44, while the Timberwolves fell to 32-29.
