03/18/2010 - 15:58
Al Drops 17 on Jazz
by
Devon Jeffreys
Big Al Jefferson scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the second consecutive game, but the Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a 122-100 decision to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Al talked about Utah's game plan and how it affected the T-Wolves, after the game, as quoted by the AP:
"They did a good job attacking us. We turned the ball over and they took advantage of it," Jefferson said. "You can't give it away against a team like Utah, especially at home."
No. 25 scored eight of his 17 points in the game's first six minutes as the Wolves established an early 18-12 lead. But when Kevin Love replaced Al with 5:52 to go in the first, things came unglued. By the end of the first the score was tied at 26.
AJ reentered to start the second quarter and immediately scored back-to-back buckets on a jumper and a driving layup as the Wolves took the lead back. But the Jazz followed with a 17-4 run and never looked back.
Al added one more jumper and three free throws for the rest of the game, but Minnesota couldn't muster the offense to keep up with Utah or the defense to slow them down. In the playoff-bound Jazz, Big Al sees a team that the Timberwolves could learn something from, He also spoke highly of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, as he told the Star-Tribune.
"They're well coached," Jefferson said. "I have great respect for their coach. They stick with their system. He has made every team that ever played for him play hard, play together. That's what makes the Jazz who they are. They play hard, every minute."
To go along with his 17 and 8, AJ dished out four assists, leading to two buckets each for Darko Millicic and Corey Brewer. Al just missed his season high in assists with five, which he recorded in a December win over the Wizards. He also added a block of CJ Miles and a theft of Ronnie Price.
Despite the 22-point loss, Al did find a reason for optimism, reflecting back to Minnesota's loss in Phoenix just one night before.
"Yeah, losing by 20 is a little better than losing by 40, I guess," he surmised.
NEXT UP
Al and the Wolves wrap up their road trip on Friday when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. PST and the game can be seen on FS North.
RELATED STORIES
Utah helps Timberwolves stretch losing streak to 11 games (TwinCities.com, March 18, 2010)
http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_14698596
Jazz send Wolves to their 11th loss in a row (Star-Tribune, March 18, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/88307682.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7...
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