Timberwolves Beat Jazz 115-100 as Dosunmu Scores 26

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Utah Jazz 115-100 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Target Center, with Ayo Dosunmu leading Minnesota with 26 points. LaMelo Ball added 24 points and five assists as the Timberwolves outscored Utah in every quarter to improve to 8-3 on the season.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Minnesota Opens With a Narrow Edge

The Timberwolves outscored the Jazz 28-25 in the opening quarter, establishing a three-point advantage. Utah stayed within reach, setting up a competitive first half before Minnesota created more separation after the break.

Second Quarter: Timberwolves Extend Their Lead

Minnesota followed with a 29-26 second quarter, doubling its advantage to six points. The Timberwolves entered halftime ahead 57-51, having produced nearly identical scoring totals in the first two periods.

Third Quarter: Minnesota Creates Separation

The third quarter provided the largest scoring difference of any period. Minnesota outscored Utah 33-27, turning a six-point halftime lead into a 90-78 advantage entering the fourth. Those 33 points also represented the highest-scoring quarter by either team.

Fourth Quarter: Timberwolves Finish the Job

Minnesota completed its quarter-by-quarter advantage with a 25-22 fourth period. Utah scored its fewest points of the night in the closing quarter, and the Timberwolves finished with a 15-point victory in regulation.

Key Performers

• Ayo Dosunmu, Timberwolves: Scored 26 points to lead Minnesota and share the game-high total with Utah’s Darryn Peterson.
• LaMelo Ball, Timberwolves: Delivered 24 points and a team-high five assists. Ball and Dosunmu combined for 50 of Minnesota’s 115 points.
• Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: Collected a game-high 15 rebounds, accounting for one-third of Minnesota’s 45 boards.
• Darryn Peterson, Jazz: Led Utah with 26 points and six rebounds, matching Dosunmu’s scoring total.
• Keyonte George, Jazz: Recorded a game-high eight assists as Utah finished with 21 assists to Minnesota’s 18.

NerdSports Stat: Minnesota’s five additional made 3-pointers produced a 15-point advantage from beyond the arc—exactly matching the final margin of victory.

Game Analysis: Shooting Efficiency Makes the Difference

Minnesota won the efficiency comparison despite taking 10 fewer shots from the field. The Timberwolves made 38 of 77 attempts, shooting 49.4%, while Utah finished 37-for-87 at 42.5%. The Jazz generated more field-goal attempts and assists, but those advantages did not translate into enough scoring.

The difference was especially noticeable from 3-point range. Minnesota converted 12 of 32 attempts for 37.5%, compared with Utah’s 7-for-24 performance at 29.2%. Although the Jazz made four more two-point baskets, the Timberwolves’ five additional 3-pointers more than offset that difference.

Minnesota also gained eight points at the free-throw line, making 27 of 32 attempts for 84.4%. Utah went 19-for-24, shooting 79.2%. Combined with a 45-37 rebounding advantage, those shooting numbers gave the Timberwolves several measurable edges beyond the scoring contributions of Dosunmu and Ball.

Closing Context: Minnesota Moves to 8-3

The win moved Minnesota to 8-3 overall and 4-1 at home, while Utah dropped to 1-9 and remained winless on the road at 0-5. The Timberwolves next host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, November 12, at 5:00 p.m. PST. The Jazz return home to face the Miami Heat on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:00 p.m. PST, seeking their second win of the season.

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