Utah Jazz lose buzzer-beater to Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-98

MINNEAPOLIS — In a recent run of misfortune and frustration for the Utah Jazz, this loss might've hurt the absolute worst.

After all, they led the Minnesota Timberwolves by as many as 18 points in the first half, took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter and led by 16, 83-67, with less than nine minutes left. Heck, with less than 41/2 minutes remaining, Utah still led by seven points in Wednesday night's game at the Target Center.

But Minnesota staged a fierce rally down the stretch, fueled by the fierce fourth-quarter play of J.J. Barea, Derrick Williams and Luke Ridnour, whose last-gasp floater in the lane at the final buzzer lifted the T-wolves to a gritty 100-98 victory in the two teams' last game before the annual NBA All-Star break.

"Luke just made an incredible play," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "He knocks that down all the time. It's a floater, he knows he has to get if off against the big guys. That was unbelievable, in traffic, getting around the guy and knocking it down. I couldn't be happier for him."

The gut-wrenching loss drops Utah's record to 15-17, while the T-wolves squared their slate at 17-17 with the dramatic come-from-behind victory, the fourth win in their last five games.

Ridnour and diminutive reserve point guard Barea combined for 23 fourth-quarter points — the Jazz, meanwhile, managed just 21 as a team — and Williams had nine more in the last 12 minutes as Minnesota poured in 36 points in the final period, refusing to fold even after Utah held a seemingly safe 13-point lead, 77-64, entering the final frame and stretched it to 16.

"The play was for J.J. to come off and make something happen," said Ridnour, who scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. "They double-teamed him and he swung it and I was able to get there and make something happen. … I saw it (the clock) when I got it and saw it was at three seconds and knew I had time to make something happen. … To see it go in was a good feeling."

Paul Millsap had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz, while Josh Howard — starting in the place of injured Raja Bell — added 19 points and six boards. Former T-wolves player Al Jefferson contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Devin Harris had 10 more points for Utah.

But the Jazz, who led 39-21 in the second quarter and 49-37 at halftime, couldn't stand prosperity and let this one slip away in seeing their road record slip to 3-11.