Utah Jazz must figure out a way to stop Karl-Anthony Towns’ 3-point shooting in Wednesday game

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends in the first half during an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer, AP

MINNEAPOLIS — The Utah Jazz have had one of the best defenses in the NBA the past few seasons under coach Quin Snyder, in large part because of the presence of two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert protecting the rim.

But a player like Minnesota’s 7-foot center Karl-Anthony Towns gives the Jazz some particular challenges because of his propensity and ability to shoot long-range shots, like he did in a Monday night T-Wolves’ victory when he made 7 of 15 from 3-point range.

“It’s a challenge for everybody because he shoots the second-most 3s in the league behind (James) Harden,” said Snyder after Wednesday’s shootaround at the Target Center, where the Jazz and T-Wolves play at 6 p.m. MT. “For us, Rudy did a good job last game of keeping him off the foul line. But it’s an unfamiliar territory for a center to be guarding out on the floor that much against a player that’s that comfortable shooting from range and attacking. It inverts our defense and it means the other four guys on the floor have to do for Rudy, what Rudy traditionally does for them.”

Snyder was wrong that Towns shoots the second-most 3s in the league. Actually he ranks sixth at 9.0 per game. What he meant to say, and it’s even more impressive, is that Towns makes the second-most 3s in the NBA at 3.9 per game. His 43.5 percentage from 3-point range is nearly 10 points higher than Harden’s 34.0 percent.

Snyder said the Jazz must work together defensively to keep Towns contained Wednesday night.

“We have to contain the 3s on the perimeter and when (Gobert) is not back to protect the rim, we have to stay in front and we have to help each other,” he said.

JAZZ NOTES: Dante Exum, who sat out for eight months before playing Monday night, said Wednesday that he is 100% and “It felt great to get back on the court after all I went through and I just want to get a win now.” ... Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins, who missed Monday’s game in Salt Lake, is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game because of illness. Josh Okogie is questionable with a knee injury and Jake Layman is out with a toe injury. ... The Jazz return home for a pair of home games Friday against Golden State and Saturday against New Orleans.

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