The Timberwolves have won three straight games, but their next chapter comes with a major change. When Minnesota hosts Utah on Sunday night, Anthony Edwards will be out, leaving LaMelo Ball with a bigger job. The flashy 6-foot-7 guard came to Minnesota to create easy chances for Edwards. Now Ball must help carry an offense missing its top scorer.

As of Friday, Minnesota stood 7-3 and Utah was 1-8. Those records set up a game between a team chasing a top spot in the West and a young group trying to turn hard lessons into progress. The Jazz have lost their last three, while the Timberwolves enter after wins over New Orleans, Houston, and Milwaukee. Still, no game becomes easy just because of a record. Utah has quick guards, tall shooters, and plenty of reasons to play with energy.

Ball is Minnesota’s main storyteller in this matchup. He averages 6.1 assists, meaning he creates more than six teammate baskets per game. He can fire passes ahead in the open floor or find a cutter near the rim. Without Edwards, Minnesota needs Ball to set a steady pace instead of trying to solve every problem alone. Ayo Dosunmu can bring speed and tough defense from the guard group, while Jonathan Kuminga can sprint into open lanes and attack the basket.

Minnesota also has a huge advantage near the rim. The Wolves pull down 49.2 rebounds per game, one of the reasons they own a strong plus-10.7 scoring margin. Rudy Gobert leads that effort with 11.8 rebounds a night. A rebound ends the other team’s turn and gives his own team a new one, so Gobert’s work can control the game’s rhythm. He also makes drives toward the basket difficult, using his size to protect the paint.

Utah’s answer begins with Keyonte George. The young guard scores 21.3 points per game and adds 6.2 assists. He can pull up for jumpers or push into the lane, and the Jazz need him to make smart choices against Minnesota’s long defenders. Lauri Markkanen brings a different problem at 7-foot-1. He can move without the ball, pop open beyond the arc, and stretch a defense away from the hoop.

The Jazz will be without Jaren Jackson Jr., their shot-blocking big man, and Jusuf Nurkic is also out. That makes the challenge around the basket even steeper against Gobert. Utah must protect the ball better after averaging 17.8 turnovers, or lost possessions, per game. Minnesota forces mistakes with active hands, collecting 8.8 steals each night.

This game is a chance for Ball to show how well Minnesota can adapt when its leading scorer is unavailable. Utah has enough young talent to make noise if George and Markkanen find a fast start. But Minnesota’s rebounding, defense, home-court edge, and recent form give it the clearer path. Prediction: the Timberwolves will win.

LaMelo Ball Takes the Lead as Minnesota Hosts Utah