SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Down 23 points in the third quarter, the Timberwolves staged a furious comeback that fell just short in a 106-102 loss at Utah.
"I don't think we were happy with the game ended and we weren't happy with the way we played in the fourth," said Donovan Mitchell, who led the Jazz with 24 points. "We got complacent in ways."
Karl-Anthony Towns had 33 points and 10 rebounds and Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points on 8-of-26 shooting and had a season-high 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped on the second game of a back-to-back.
"Fourth quarter, I'm trying to take over the game and dominate," Towns said. "I'm trying to give us a chance to win. I was just being a little aggressive all around and trying to make plays everywhere."
Anthony Tolliver hit his second 3 of the final four minutes to get the Timberwolves within one at 103-102, but Luol Deng missed an open 3-pointer in the corner for a chance to give Minnesota its first lead since the first quarter.
Joe Ingles, who had 12 points, snatched the rebound and hit two free throws. On the next possession, Gobert got a piece of Tolliver's 3-point attempt. Mitchell rebounded and hit one free throw to clinch the win.
"I had to make a play and block that shot," said Gobert, who had four blocks. "We had to lock in."
In the third quarter, the Timberwolves took a hit when Taj Gibson went after the officials and got two technicals and had to be restrained by his teammates after a foul call as Ingles went to the basket.
The Jazz then shot five free throws, three by Mitchell (as Towns also got a technical) and two by Ingles. With 4:46 left in the third, Mitchell hit two more foul shots to cap the 13-0 run and the Jazz led 75-54.
The Jazz led by as many as 23 in the third period, but the Timberwolves scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter. When Towns followed his own missed jumper with a layup, the Timberwolves had closed within eight at 90-82.
"I'm so proud to be part of this group, just the way they battled," said Wolves interim head coach Ryan Saunders. "The resolve of this group is something special."
Utah barely survived while shooting 5 of 28 in the fourth quarter and was saved by some hustle plays and defensive stops. The Jazz made only two field goals in the final five minutes.
The Timberwolves were missing Derrick Rose (sore ankle), Tyus Jones (ankle sprain) and Jeff Teague (sore foot), which caused some trouble in executing the offense and players getting the ball in unfamiliar positions.
GIBSON: `I JUST LOST IT'
Gibson doesn't have a problem with official James Williams, even though it looked as though he wanted to fight him when he got ejected.
"I know James," Gibson said. "He's a like big brother. ... You get used to seeing him all the time, so you've got a relationship. Sometimes, tempers flare and kind of lose it a little. But at the end of the day, you know he means well. It's part of the job. It was just one of those times I lost it."
Gibson, who scored his 7,000th career point before his meltdown, continued: "Like I said, I'm human. But I got a lot of respect for James. Like I said, he's been reffing my games 10-plus years in the NBA. It's up to me just to go talk to him and apologize."
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Minnesota fumbled its way to 12 turnovers in the first half. ... Towns was limited to six first-half minutes because of foul trouble. ... The Timberwolves outscored the Jazz in the paint 48-38.
UP NEXT
The Timberwolves host Utah on Sunday.