SALT LAKE CITY – Al Jefferson tied a career high with 40 points, including a clutch jumper with 39 seconds left, to power the Utah Jazz past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 107-100 on Friday night.
The victory kept the pressure on the Los Angeles Lakers in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Jefferson scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the third to turn a seven-point deficit into an 82-81 lead entering the fourth.
After Ricky Rubio's back-to-back 3-pointers gave Minnesota a 98-97 lead with 3:52 left, Jefferson followed with an 8-footer. His 14-footer as the shock clock expired gave Utah a 101-98 lead with 39 seconds remaining.
J.J. Barea scored a season-high 23 points off the bench for Minnesota (29-50).
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