Jazz prevail Wolves dominate everything but scoreboard

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Karl Malone is starting to believe in this year's Utah Jazz.

The Jazz had a season-high 21 turnovers and were outplayed by Minnesota for all but three minutes Monday night, yet still managed a 98-92 victory over the Timberwolves.

"It's not just John Stockton and Karl Malone. All these guys do a great job," Malone said.

Utah trailed most of the game until Malone made two free throws with 1:13 remaining.

Malone led Utah with 22 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. However, he was most pleased with his teammates, particularly John Starks, an 11-year veteran guard signed in August to replace the retired Jeff Hornacek.

"When he was playing with New York, he wanted to take every big shot," Malone said.

Starks had a perfect fourth quarter, hitting 4-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line for 14 of his 16 points, helping Utah outscore Minnesota 29-14 in the final 12 minutes.

"John Starks, I thought was terrific," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "It was a great win for our team, and it was a tough game to be able to win."

The Jazz began the fourth quarter trailing 78-69 as Minnesota took turns setting up Terrell Brandon, Kevin Garnett, Wally Szczerbiak and Chauncey Billups.

Brandon had 25 points, Garnett 22, Billups 19 and Szczerbiak 16.

Utah stayed close thanks to Danny Manning's 13 points and Stockton's 12.

"We had trouble all night long. I think they were the aggressors most of the game," Sloan said. "They had control, they just missed some shots coming down the stretch, and we happened to make some jump shots."

Minnesota led 92-86 with 3:21 left in the game after Garnett hit one of two free throws, but it proved to be its last point.

Starks made a pair of free throws and then hit a 3-pointer to make it 92-91. After Malone made two free throws at the 1:13 mark, Garnett missed a 10-foot turnaround jumper. Brandon stole the ball, but he also missed a jumper, leaving the Timberwolves no choice but to foul.

MINNESOTA (92)

Szczerbiak 7-11 0-0 16, Garnett 7-18 8-10 22, Nesterovic 1-5 0-0 2, Billups 7-17 2-3 19, Brandon 10-20 5-5 25, Mitchell 0-1 2-2 2, Garrett 2-2 0-0 4, Peeler 1-5 0-0 2, Ellis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-80 17-20 92.

UTAH (98)

Malone 8-17 6-8 22, Russell 5-11 2-2 12, Polynice 1-3 0-0 2, Stockton 5-10 2-2 13, Starks 5-10 4-4 16, Vaughn 5-7 0-0 10, Ostertag 0-0 0-0 0, Lewis 1-1 1-2 3, Manning 3-5 7-9 13, Marshall 2-5 0-0 4, Benoit 0-0 0-0 0, Stevenson 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 36-70 23-29 98.

Minnesota 29 22 27 14 -- 92

Utah 20 29 20 29 -- 98

3-Point Goals--Minnesota 5-14 (Billups 3-6, Szczerbiak 2-3, Garnett 0-1, Brandon 0-1, Peeler 0-3), Utah 3-7 (Starks 2-3, Stockton 1-1, Manning 0-1, Russell 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 35 (Garnett 9), Utah 53 (Malone 15). Assists--Minnesota 21 (Brandon 6), Utah 23 (Stockton 8). Total fouls--Minnesota 26, Utah 27. A--19,911 (19,911).