Utah Jazz Need to Beat T-Wolves, Cotton Signs with Grizzlies

Utah Jazz news and notes, including: a must-win game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bryce Cotton is back in the league and a Jazz viewing party for the NCAA title game.

The Utah Jazz loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday was a gut punch. Thanks to the missed free throws, the fact that the team failed to make two potential game-winners at the end of regulation and the disappointment that was overtime, it’s hard to shake that “so close, but so far away” feeling.

Having said that, the team fought hard and pushed one of the greatest teams in the history of the league to the limit. Without question, it was something the Jazz can build on and could serve as a motivating factor in the handful of games that remain on the schedule.

Moreover, the Warriors game was one that the Jazz came into as heavy underdogs; one would expect them to lose.

Not so in the case of Friday’s bout with Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With the playoff race tighter than ever heading into the season’s final days, it has become more important than ever for the Jazz to win the games they enter as favorites. With a 25-50 record and coming off of what head coach Sam Mitchell dubbed their “worst game” of the year, the T-Wolves are definitely the dogs in this one.

If the Jazz can handle their business against inferior competition, they give themselves a good chance of securing a return to postseason play.

Lose and things start to look grim.

This is exactly what the Houston Rockets did on Thursday night in their home game against the Chicago Bulls. After leading Fred Hoiberg‘s discontented team by nine points heading into the fourth quarter, James Harden and company went anti-clutch, getting outscored by 12 in the final period.

With the loss, the Rockets fell below the Jazz by a half-game for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. If the Jazz wish to avoid a similar fate, they need to rebound from the emotional loss on Wednesday with a strong performance against the Wolves.

Despite Minnesota’s record and the fact that the Jazz have won consecutive games against them by an average margin of 11 points, the Wolves have won three of their last five contests. Furthermore, players like Towns, Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad and Ricky Rubio all have the potential to cause problems for Utah.

Towns in particular has played well of late. In the aforementioned five-game stretch, the star rookie is averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds on 57 percent shooting, 40 percent from three-point range and 93 percent from the line.

Still, the Jazz are the better team and the only one in the match-up that still has something to play for. With difficult games against the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks looming, they can’t afford to lose any “gimmes” lest they lose ground in the race.

The Timberwolves have the potential to be a force in the west for years to come, but they’re not there yet. Not by a long shot. The Jazz are years ahead of them and it shows on the floor.

In other words, get it done, gang.

Cotton Signs with Memphis Grizzlies

According to Chris Vernon of 92.9 FM ESPN Radio in Memphis, the Grizzlies are signing former Jazzman Bryce Cotton to a 10-day contract–

Thanks to multiple injury exceptions and a revolving door of fill-ins, Cotton becomes the 28th player to suit up for the Grizz this season.

Cotton played most recently for Xinjiang Tigers, after having spent much of the early NBA season with the D-League’s Austin Spurs. He also played three games with the Phoenix Suns and was part of Utah’s roster through training camp and the preseason.

The former Providence star played 15 games with the Jazz last season, averaging 5.3 points, one assist and one rebound per contest. While he was unable to remain with the team despite the injury to Dante Exum, fans will always remember him fondly for doing this–

Next: Update on Playing Status for Derrick Favors, Alec Burks

Jazz Hosting College Basketball Viewing Party

Finally, the Jazz have announced that they will be hosting a viewing party for the final of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on April 4 from 5 to 10 PM MDT. The event will also serve as a ticketing open house.

From UtahJazz.com—

"Fans can enjoy watching the big game on the twin, high-definition, 42-foot by 24-foot center-hung screens in the lower bowl, while also viewing season ticket locations for the upcoming 2016-17 season and 2016 playoffs. Viewing party festivities will begin at 5 PM, with game time to be determined."

Not a bad way to watch a game, if you’re able.