NBA Regular Season 2012-2013: Minnesota Timberwolves (14-13) at Utah Jazz (15-17) -- Game Preview

NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 33:

Minnesota Timberwolves (14-13) at Utah Jazz (15-17)

#MINatUTA Game Stream -- Canis Hoopus -- Timberwolves vs Jazz coverage

Welcome back Comrade Kirilenko!

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The Basics:

Andrei Kirilenko returns. Al Jefferson has another chance to beat up on his old team. Minny is ahead of us in the standings, but we're at home.

And the AK-47 is back. That's kind of a big thing.

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History:

The history books show the Jazz dominate here, and are 64-32 all-time against the Timberwolves, and 37-11 at home. Last season the Jazz won the series 2-1. On paper they are the better team when healthy, but they are not. And we're not playing this game on paper, we're playing this game in the ESA. History is on our side.

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Scouting, Stats, and Stereotypes:

Both teams are white. Or at least, that's the stereotype. In reality only the T-Wolves are this season. : )

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Injury Report:

Timberwolves Injuries --

• Ricky Rubio (PG) OUT -- Rubio will miss at least one week with back spasms
• Brandon Roy (SG) OUT -- Roy is out indefinitely with arthroscopic right knee surgery recovery. I wish I had more time to go into this, because I have strong opinions about Roy's knees from a professional point of view.
• Chase Budinger (SF) OUT -- Chase is expected to miss 3-4 months due to left knee surgery
• Malcolm Lee (SG) OUT -- Lee is also out indefinitely with a hyperextended right knee

Jazz Injuries --

• Mo Williams (PG) OUT -- Mo is out with a sprained right thumb, and he's going to NY to get a second opinion on it.
• Marvin Williams (SF) IN -- Marvin was out for a few games due to right knee inflammation, but he's good to go tonight.
• Raja Bell (SG) OUT -- He's vowed to get his Christmas shopping early for next year, and has started already. Watch out! Bell's on the hunt for savings!

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Advantage --

We have the advantage, I hope we use it.

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The Game:

AK-47.

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Player Focus:

Gordon Hayward. Why? Because of AK-47.

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X-Factors:

The Crowd... you know it.

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Word from the Badguys:

*Wolf howls*

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As an aside:

I really wish a) we had Andrei back, and b) I didn't get stuck in traffic and got home sooner. That's why this is such a bad job.

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Fearless Prediction:

Jazz win, why? Because we usually do well against teams with former Jazz players on them.