Timberwolves 98, Jazz 72: Nikola Pekovic scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Minnesota rode a dominant first half to an easy home win.

The Timberwolves held Utah to 8-for-39 shooting and just 23 points in the first half, an all-time low for a Minnesota opponent in the opening 24 minutes, in racing to a 28-point halftime lead and snapping a three-game slide. Kevin Love had a double-double by the break and finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds while Kevin Martin scored 20 points for the Timberwolves.

Alec Burks was the lone Utah player in double figures with 18 points. The Jazz finished with a 28.8 percent mark from the floor and were outscored in the paint by a 50-18 margin in losing for just the third time in the past 14 meetings.

Utah had an early one-point lead after a 3-pointer by Burks but Minnesota ended the first quarter on a 14-5 run and closed the second with a 22-4 flurry. Martin finished the surge with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to cap a personal 16-point first half.

The Jazz found their footing in the second half but never mounted any kind of threat, pulling as close as 24 points early in the third quarter. The Timberwolves had a 60-42 rebounding advantage and a 19-4 advantage in fast-break points in recording its third win of more than 20 points this month.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Utah played its fifth straight without leading scorer SG Gordon Hayward, out with a hip flexor strain. ... The Jazz did best the Timberwolves in one category, making 23-of-29 from the line compared to 20-of-34 for the hosts. ... Minnesota PG Ricky Rubio contributed nine assists, eight rebounds and six points.