Gameday preview: Wolves vs. Jazz

Preview: After rallying from 10 down in the fourth quarter to take a one-point lead with 5:02 left, the Wolves were outscored 16-7 the rest of the way in a 107-99 opening-night loss to the Spurs on Wednesday night. The Spurs hit six of their final nine shots. Now the Wolves open at home against Utah and Ricky Rubio. The Jazz rallied to win its home opener against Denver on Wednesday, getting a boost from the bench while outscoring the Nuggets 28-13 in the fourth quarter.

Players to watch: Wolves G Andrew Wiggins scored 26 points Wednesday, hitting four of six three-pointers; he became the eighth-youngest player in league history to reach 5,000 career points. C Karl-Anthony Towns had his 115th career double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Veteran starters F Taj Gibson (six points) and G Jeff Teague (11 points, six assists) didn't play in the fourth quarter. Jazz C Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 10 rebounds in Utah's season-opening win. Rubio had nine points and 10 assists. Guards Alec Burks (16) and Joe Johnson (13) had 29 of the Jazz's 44 bench points.

Numbers: The Wolves were 1-3 vs. Utah last season. Minnesota is 19-9 all-time in home openers, 18-4 in their last 22. Butler, Gibson and Teague became the 71st, 72nd and 73rd players to start for the Wolves in a season opener.

Injuries: Wolves C Justin Patton (foot) is out. Jazz G Dante Exum (shoulder) is out; G Raul Neto (leg) is questionable.