Jazz Trample Timberwolves

Kevin Garnett's return to the Minnesota lineup wasn't enough to help the Timberwolves against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

Not even close.

Bryon Russell led seven players in double digits with 14 points as Utah jumped on the Wolves early and cruised to a 97-76 victory, extending its NBA-best winning streak to 11 games.

Victories don't get much easier than this: Utah held a double-digit lead from the 3:30 mark of the first quarter on and was able to rest Karl Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek the entire fourth quarter.

"Everybody's playing well right now," Russell said. "That's what we need to take the pressure off (Malone and Stockton)."

Stockton scored six points in the game's first eight minutes as the Jazz took control and never let up. Utah handed Minnesota its worst two defeats of the season as the Jazz beat the Wolves 99-72 on March 13.

"They put us back on our heels," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "They're a good defensive team. You get down, and it puts too much pressure on the open guys to make the shots."

Garnett, who missed the previous three games after being hospitalized due to dehydration caused by the flu, led the Wolves with 18 points. Minnesota has dropped seven of its last nine games, a skid that coincides with point guard Terrell Brandon's absence from the lineup due to a deep thigh bruise.

"People think when you get a player back that everything's going to go back to the way it was," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "Sometimes it takes a while."

Garnett went 2-for-10 from the field in the first quarter while the Jazz shot 57 percent and took a 25-12 lead. Consecutive jumpers by Greg Foster gave the Jazz a 35-18 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Wolves answered with six straight points.

The half couldn't have endd much worse for the Wolves. Shandon Anderson fought off Sam Mitchell to catch a long pass, then made a desperation jumper at the buzzer. Wolves coaches felt Anderson fouled Mitchell and that the shot was too late. When neither call went their way, coach Flip Saunders tore off his coat and raced to center court to argue the call.

Minnesota closed within 53-40 early in the third, but Malone scored six points in a 21-8 run over the final 8:22 of the period to give the Jazz a 74-48 lead.

Notes: Despite Minnesota's improved play over the last three seasons, the Jazz have had their way with the Timberwolves. Utah's victory Sunday was its eighth in the last 10 at Target Center. ... Russell, who is averaging just over 12 points this season, is averaging 17.2 points during Utah's current winning streak. ... Malone's 29.1 scoring average against Minnesota is the highest of any Wolves opponent. ... Including Sunday's game, the Jazz have shot 50 percent or better in six of their last 10 games.

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