The Minnesota Timberwolves can put their suitcases away for a while.
Minnesota starts an eight-game homestand when it tips off against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Minneapolis. It is a welcome return for the Timberwolves, who have jumped out to a 7-3 record despite losing Anthony Edwards to injury and playing six of 10 games on the road.
The Timberwolves have won three straight, including a 115-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. LaMelo Ball finished with 22 points and eight assists, and he will look to maintain his recently improved play against Utah.
On the season, Ball is averaging 17.7 points per game and has boosted his shooting percentage to 44.1% — well ahead of his career mark of 41.8%.
“LaMelo has really settled in and is finding his groove,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “He’s just a magical player.”
Meanwhile, Utah will go for its first road win. The Jazz have dropped eight of nine games this season and arrive in Minnesota on a seven-game losing streak.
One reason for optimism for the Jazz is the recent performance of rookie Darryn Peterson. Though Utah lost its most recent game 112-100 against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Peterson finished with a career-high 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting that included three 3-pointers.
Peterson also notched five assists, three blocked shots and a pair of steals in his 30 minutes. The 19-year-old is averaging 13.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists through nine games.
“Just (feeling) a little bit more comfortable,” Peterson said. “Finding some comfort out there. Getting used to it. … Finding my spots, figuring out which shots I like a lot and which shots I want to get to. So, keep finding those, and I need to make them at a high level.”
Peterson credits Jazz coach Will Hardy for helping him improve his game.
“I like being coached hard,” Peterson said. “Coach Hardy told me he was going to push me as soon as I got here. So I know it’s going to (make) me better in the long run, and I appreciate him for it.”
Minnesota could be without backup big man Joan Beringer, who broke his nose during Friday’s game against New Orleans.
Trey Lyles stepped into a bigger role after Beringer left Friday — making the most of his season-high 29 minutes by grabbing 13 rebounds for the first time since he collected 18 on March 26, 2022, while with the Sacramento Kings — and Lyles could be called upon for a more prominent role again Sunday. The 11-year veteran is averaging 6.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 10 games off the bench this season.
Teammate Ayo Dosunmu praised Lyles for his contributions in place of Beringer.
“He played a hell of a game,” Dosunmu said. “He didn’t get it going early. He battled through adversity. I told him, ‘Hey, man, don’t worry about the shots falling — each and every possession, we’re going to need you.’ He got a big tip dunk and then he had another dunk, so he played great down the stretch.”
