SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Walker Kessler had a go-ahead dunk with 9.7 seconds left to help the Utah Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-116 on Friday night, snapping a six-game losing streak in the series.
John Collins scored a season-high 29 points and 12 rebounds for Utah, Brice Sensabaugh added 17 points ande Isaiah Collier had a career-high 14 assists.
Naz Reid had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalen McDaniels added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who played without leading scorer Anthony Edwards while he served a one-game suspension for technical foul accumulation.
Utah opened the third quarter with a 27-4 run and seized an 83-71 lead. Collins started the second-half rally with back-to-back baskets and then made two straight field goals again to put the Jazz in front. They scored baskets on six straight possessions to cap the run.
Minnesota used a 10-2 run to regain the lead late in the fourth quarter, going up 116-115 on Donte DiVincenzo’s 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining.
Utah Jazz forward KJ Martin (99) celebrates his alley-oop dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) shoots the ball while guarded by Utah Jazz forward KJ Martin (99) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Utah Jazz forward KJ Martin (99) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) compete for a jump ball during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) lays the ball up while guarded by Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) and forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) slaps hands with guard Isaiah Collier (13) after Collins made a basket and also earned a trip to the line after a Minnesota Timberwolves foul on his shot during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) lays the ball up while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) drives the ball toward the hoop while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) passes the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) lays the ball up against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) slaps hands with Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) shoots the ball while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza (55) after a foul was called during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward KJ Martin (99) is fouled on his shot by Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) dunks the ball while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) to put the Jazz up by one point late in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) and center Walker Kessler (24) high-five after Kessler made a dunk to put the Jazz ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves by one point late in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch looks up during a timeout in an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz assistant coach Scott Morrison talks with forward John Collins (20) during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Joe Ingles, center, guard Mike Conley, second from right, and center Rudy Gobert, left, celebrate a teammate’s basket against the Utah Jazz during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy talks with center Walker Kessler (24) during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) shoots the ball while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) controls the ball while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (00) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) slaps hands with guard Collin Sexton (2) after a play during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) shoots the ball while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
A young Utah Jazz fan watches a play unfold against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) drives the ball around a screen while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark (22) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Ryan Smith laughs as he talks with his wife, Ashley, both owners of the Utah Jazz, during an NBA basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) reacts after a foul was called stopping his fast-break during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy smiles during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
A young Utah Jazz fan holds a sign during an NBA basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward KJ Martin (99) slaps hands with fans on the sideline during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
The Jazz Bear holds signs as he attempts to pump up the crowd during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) reacts after a foul during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) pulls down an offensive rebound while guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) during an NBA basketball game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Takeaways
Timberwolves: Minnesota, coming off a 111-102 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday night, missed 12 of 14 shots over the first 6 1/2 minutes of the third quarter to squander an 11-point halftime lead.
Jazz: John Collins and Collin Sexton both returned to the lineup following long absences. Sexton sat out 11 games with a left ankle sprain and Collins missed three games with low back soreness.
Key moment
Kessler’s game-winner was the lone basket for Utah over the final 4:23.
Key stat
The Timberwolves had only one turnover in the first half.
Up next
Timberwolves visit Phoenix on Sunday, and Jazz host New Orleans.
