MINNEAPOLIS — Jeff Green started with the ball in the corner when a Minnesota Timberwolves defender closed on him. Green passed to the top of the key to Bojan Bogdanovic, who sent a quick touch pass across to Georges Niang.
Niang didn’t hold the ball either, keeping the cycle going over to Joe Ingles, who drove to the basket and drew defenders before kicking the ball back to Green in the corner. Wide open, Green knocked down a 3-pointer for an early Utah Jazz lead.
Utah’s offense was efficient thanks to the ball movement in a 127-116 road win on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Donovan Mitchell’s 30 points led six players in double-figures, and the Jazz bench chipped in 34 points, led by Emmanuel Mudiay with 13.
“We moved the ball,” said Utah center Rudy Gobert, who had 20 points and 16 rebounds. “I don’t know how many passes we had every possession but for the most part, it was pretty much the best game we’ve had moving the ball, and it’s tough to guard.”
While losing six of their previous eight games, the Jazz’s offense had been inconsistent and their trademark defense had slipped.
For stretches on Wednesday, Utah found its previous form on both sides.
“We talked a lot about moving the ball,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “It’s something that we’ve done and guys spacing so that we can move it. For the most part early on, I thought we did a good job defensively. We had some breakdowns and gave them a few things. Rudy really protecting the rim is something else, particularly at the beginning of the second half.”
On Minnesota’s first possession after halftime, Utah executed a switch on a pick-and-roll and Gobert forced Robert Covington into a miss at the rim. Ingles, who finished with 23 points, hit a 3 on the other end.
The next time down the court, another switch led to Gobert blocking a shot from Andrew Wiggins. Bogdanovic countered with another 3. Gobert, who went three games without a block coming in, then blocked another shot on the next Wolves possession.
“Ball movement, talking on defense, being able to get out in transition, big boy (Gobert) did his thing locking down (Karl-Anthony Towns),” Mitchell said. “When you do that, it makes our lives a lot easier.”
Mike Conley missed his fourth straight game with left hamstring tightness. Even without the veteran point guard, Utah focused on sharing the ball. There were several offensive series where touch passes were quick and Minnesota was unable to keep up.
The result was open shots and 56.6% shooting from the field. The Jazz hit 16 of 35 from 3-point territory.
“We had more catch-and-shoot 3s tonight than we have in a while, and that’s a function of guys having their eyes out and playing together,” Snyder said.
It was a conscious effort on Utah’s part as it tries to shake its recent skid.
“Just being unselfish,” Mitchell said. “When you get into the paint, just having vision, being able to be aware of what your surroundings are and trusting one another. That was our biggest thing. We said it and we did it. It’s one game. We have to be able to do it on a consistent basis, but it’s a good start.”
The Jazz had been held under 100 points in three of their previous four games, all losses. They entered play Wednesday with a 4-8 record on the road.
Against another team struggling defensively, the offense was crisp. Snyder said before the game that the team “had a couple of good practices before our last game, but I don’t think we played well defensively at all. Some of that was between the ears, just being focused.”
There was no sign of that Wednesday. Utah led by five points in the first two minutes and only trailed once (16-15). The Jazz outscored Minnesota 38-24 in the third quarter, shot 66.7% from the field and had 11 assists on 14 made baskets.
“It’s one game,” Mitchell said. “We played very well. But it’s one game, we’ve got to be able to do it on a more consistent basis.”
Utah hosts Golden State on Friday with a chance to keep it going.