The Timberwolves were already missing three frontcourt regulars when Isaiah Rider's jawing with Karl Malone triggered the ejection of Minnesota's leading scorer.
Malone took advantage of the Wolves' manpower shortage, scoring 27 points as the Utah Jazz won 104-96 Sunday."Their regular guys are out, and the other guys come to play - to show they can compete," Malone said.
The Wolves did compete despite the absence of starters Andrew Lang and Tom Gugliotta and reserve forward Sam Mitchell. But Malone's performance and 28 points from Jeff Hornacek sparked the Jazz to their seventh straight victory.
Spud Webb scored a season-high 21 points for the Wolves, who lost Rider with 1:43 left in the first half after he received his second technical foul from referee Ken Mauer.
Rider got his first technical from Mauer with 2:56 left in the half for arguing a call. After a hard foul by Malone just over a minute later, Rider taunted the Jazz forward while shooting his free throws and was ejected.
"Karl Malone swears at the officials and you never see a technical foul on Karl Malone," said Minnesota's Doug West. "It's their reputation against our reputation."
West restrained Rider from going after Mauer when he was ejected. It was part of a bizarre scene that ended with Rider's mother, who was sitting courtside, walking halfway across the court to try to calm her son.
The Wolves were already without Mitchell (injured list), Lang (right calf injury) and Gugliotta (flu), and losing Rider meant a change of focus for coach Flip Saunders.
"As a coach, you're usually looking up for the score to see what you need to do," he said. "I was looking up at the foul situation to make sure we'd have enough players to finish the game."
Hornacek took advantage of the undermanned Wolves in the first half, hitting all seven of his shots from the field, including three 3-pointers, en route to 22 points and a 63-51 halftime lead. He finished 8-for-9.
"I got some good looks in the open court (in the first half)," said Hornacek. "But they were keying on me in the second half."
The Wolves held the Jazz to 41 points in the second half, and got as close as 102-96 with 50 seconds to play.
Notes: The Jazz have held 10 straight opponents under 100 points. ... Lang suffered a slight tear in his left calf muscle in Friday night's loss to Seattle. He is listed as day-to-day. ... With Mitchell on the injured list and Gugliotta out with the flu, the Wolves suited up just nine players Sunday. ... A lot of players have had career games against the Wolves, but Malone has made it a habit. He averages 28.5 points in 32 career games against Minnesota.