SALT LAKE CITY - Once upon a time -- fairy-tale terminology is appropriate here, the way things have gone -- the Timberwolves had designs on the Northwest Division title.
In the NBA's more powerful conference, capturing the division -- and the reward of a top-four playoff seed -- was going to be the Wolves' ticket to a real postseason run in the West. It was a way around the Texas triangle (Dallas, San Antonio, Houston), a chance to leapfrog a couple of Pacific teams in the bracket, regardless of records.
The Utah Jazz? No one back in October touted them or Denver much at all, in or beyond the Northwest. With Portland and Seattle mired in rebuilding, the Wolves were free to dream about a division banner and a favorable first-round matchup.
That dream died halfway through January.
That was when the Wolves got within three games of the Jazz, then faltered, going 10-25 to Utah's 23-10 ever since.
And it is a shame, in a season of shames for Minnesota, because the feisty game the teams played Wednesday -- a 108-102 Utah victory at Energy Solutions Arena -- coulda, shoulda meant something.
Tight through most of the first 36 minutes (10 lead changes, seven ties), Utah asserted itself with a 17-6 run across the quarter break. That opened an 84-76 lead three minutes into the fourth, a margin the Jazz managed the rest of the way.
Utah went 13-for-16 from the line in the final quarter, 9-for-11 in the last 33.8 seconds. The Wolves got outscored by 11 points on free throws, and no starter besides Kevin Garnett even shot one.
And so it was that Utah (47-24) clinched its first division title since 1999-2000, while the Wolves (30-41) walked off the court 17 games behind the Jazz in the Northwest standings and all but eliminated from the playoffs. While Minnesota was relieved to find some energy and effort 24 hours after the worst collapse in franchise history (blowing a lead of 25 points against Seattle), the home club was honing itself for a likely first-round matchup with the Rockets.
Five months, miles of separation. No division crown.
"It was definitely a goal, but this team's [Utah] been together for a while," said Garnett, who scored 25 points. "They've been through some adversity. They've got a great point guard [Deron Williams] who leads them, [Andrei] Kirilenko plays great defense, everybody understands their roles and they have a great coach [Jerry Sloan] who keeps them disciplined."
Said coach Randy Wittman: "You're disappointed, sure. But you get a better idea of what you're missing and what you've got to become. We've got to take a serious look at what we've got to do to get to the point where Utah is."It's all within the room," said Davis, who scored 18. "It's all about us. Until we get it together, we're just going to be hoping and wishing."
Three Jazz players had double-doubles: Carlos Boozer (25 points, 11 rebounds), Mehmet Okur (23, 12) and Williams (22, 14 assists).
Steve Aschburner • saschburner@startribune.com
wolves/nba
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