A western conference showdown between the seventh placed Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves who are down in 11th: Now the Jazz don't have the best offence, but with George Hill and Gordon Hayward both scoring 24 points, that would be enough for their top ranked defence to lead them to a third straight win.

Minnesota down by five but they steal the ball and Andrew Wiggins finds Ricky Rubio and the Spaniard lays it in for two of his 11 points.

The T-Pups now up five and another Jazz turnover leads to a fast break that is finished off in style by two-time slam dunk champion Zach Lavine who would have a game high 28 points.

Utah tie it up in the second quarter and Trey Lyles hits a floater in the lane to give the hosts the lead.

Minnesota go back to the fast break and the long outlet pass finds Karl-Anthony Towns who throws it down while getting fouled, giving the Timberwolves a three point edge.

Utah keep it close as Australian Joe Ingles gets open in the corner where he connects on a long jumper to make it 45-43 Minnesota.

Third quarter and Towns works the pick and roll with Lavine before the big man slices in for a lay up, part of his 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Hill responds by driving in and dropping it to Rudy Gobert for a one-handed jam to open an 11 point lead for the Jazz.

Early in the fourth, Hayward spots up from the land beyond and his triple puts Utah up by five, not bad for a guy with a broken finger.

But the Timberowlves tie it again in style as Shabazz Muhammad goes hard to the rim and it's 78-all.

Hill responds for the Jazz as he goes baseline for the reverse as their coach Quin Snyder provides some extra instructions.

Les than two minutes to play and Hill takes off from half-court to give Utah an 11 point lead.

And the Jazz would go on to win 112-103 for thier thrid straight victory.

In other games, Kevin Durant had 25 points and 14 redbounds in Golden State's 12th straight win. Wshington got by Sacramento in overtime, Kyle Lowry went 6-for-6 on three-pointers in Toronto's win, Russel Westbrook recored his league leading eighth triple double as OKC downed the Knicks, Boston topped Miami, and Charlotte overcame Memphis by 19.