Timberwolves' top-four defense meets a Jazz offense ranked 29th

The Utah Jazz (1-8), losers of seven straight with the NBA's 29th-ranked offense, visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (7-3), owners of the league's best net rating, on Sunday night in Minneapolis.

Utah scores 102.6 points per 100 possessions, 29th in the league. Minnesota allows 104.6, fourth, and holds opponents to the third-lowest effective field goal percentage. The Jazz rank 28th in true shooting, so clean looks will be scarce.

Utah also turns it over on 14.9% of its possessions, 26th, and Minnesota's offense, fifth in effective field goal percentage, punishes mistakes.

Minnesota grabs 32.2% of its own misses, third in the league, against a Utah team seventh in defensive rebounding. Rudy Gobert averages 11.8 rebounds, 4.1 of them offensive.

The Timberwolves are without Anthony Edwards, who averaged 33.3 points in four games and is expected back Monday, December 21. Donte DiVincenzo, at 30.5 minutes a game, is also out, and Joan Beringer is questionable. LaMelo Ball, at 6.1 assists a game, will run more of the offense.

Keyonte George carries Utah at 21.3 points and 6.2 assists, though his 3.9 turnovers a game feed the problem. Airious Bailey leads the Jazz with 7.1 rebounds.

Utah's front line is thin. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are out, and Lauri Markkanen, at 30.9 minutes a game, is questionable. Two more Jazz players are out.

Utah lost 119-97 at San Antonio and 112-90 at home to Portland. Minnesota has won three straight, including 117-107 at Houston.

Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. ET Sunday. Sportsbooks' prices give Minnesota an 82% chance to win; our projection, blended with the market, makes it 83% and has the Timberwolves by 12.9 points.