Jazz vs. Timberwolves: A History of the Midwest Rivalry

When Do The Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz Play Next?

Minnesota Timberwolves tickets and Utah Jazz tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information. They play each other four times this season.

Are the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz Rivals?

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz have been battling against one another since the Timberwolves joined the NBA. They have always played in the same division, so the Jazz Timberwolves games mean more in terms of playoff seeding. The teams have never played one another in the postseason, making the Jazz-Timberwolves rivalry a smaller one. But one of the largest trades in NBA history has made their contests exciting for years to come.

Who are the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Biggest Rivals?

Based on geography, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ biggest rivals are the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. But both of those teams are in a different conference than the Timberwolves. In the Western Conference, it’s the Memphis Grizzlies. With young stars on both teams like Ja Morant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Jaren Jackson Jr., it has a chance to be a strong rivalry for years. The Grizzlies beat the Timberwolves in their only playoff meeting in 2022. The San Antonio Spurs have also historically been a Timberwolves rival.

Who are the Utah Jazz’s Biggest Rivals?

With so many intense playoff meetings, the Utah Jazz’s biggest rivals are the Houston Rockets. These two franchises have met nine times in the postseason, with Utah holding a 5-4 edge in series victories. Two of those playoff meetings came in the Western Conference Finals: in 1994 and 1997. The Rockets won in 1994 en route to an NBA title while the Jazz got revenge in 1997. The teams met again in 2007 and 2008 with the Jazz winning both times. The Rockets have had the most recent success, winning back-to-back playoff series in 2018 and 2019.

Game Results Between the Jazz & Timberwolves

The first two Jazz vs. Timberwolves games took place in Minnesota with the Timberwolves won both. The final games are scheduled for March 16 and March 18 in Utah.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz History

The Jazz vs. Timberwolves history has been one-sided as the Jazz have 90 wins compared to 50 for the Timberwolves. Having never met in the postseason, the Jazz Timberwolves rivalry isn’t as hot as some others in the league. The Jazz’s strong run in the mid-to-late 1990s with teams that featured NBA legends John Stockton and Karl Malone came to an end just as Minnesota started to build up success. By the time Minnesota had its best season, in 2003-2004 when Kevin Garnett won MVP, the Jazz were rebuilding. Then, when the Jazz made strong runs in 2007 and 2008, the Timberwolves fell back and missed the playoffs for 11 straight seasons. But recently, these two franchises came together for a trade that left the whole NBA talking. Utah traded All-NBA center Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in 2022 for five players and five draft picks. While it seemed like a hefty price tag for one player, in large part because of that trade, the current Minnesota team is thriving thanks to Gobert, Towns, and Edwards.

Where Do the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves Play?

The Utah Jazz play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Delta Center has been home to NHL and WNBA teams in the past and is a widely used entertainment venue.

The Minnesota Timberwolves play at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is currently also the home to the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.