Utah (49-26) leads the Northwest with the sixth-best record in the West, in which the top nine teams are separated by only 6 1/2 games. Minnesota (19-54) is near the opposite end of the West race, trailing the division lead by 29 games.

The Timberwolves, however, have won two of three games against the Jazz, including a 110-103 victory in Minneapolis on Sunday that concerned Utah coach Jerry Sloan.

"Obviously, if you don't win, you don't get to the playoffs," Sloan said after that game. "People have us penciled in way too soon."

The Jazz responded to their coach's warning Monday night, when they made a franchise-record 15 3-pointers, had 40 assists on 50 baskets and shot 59.5 percent from the field in their 129-87 rout of Washington.

Utah improved its league-best home record to 33-4. The Jazz have won 23 of their last 24 games at EnergySolutions Arena.

Mehmet Okur returned from a two-game absence because of a stomach virus and had 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists Monday. The Jazz, however, managed to turn in their dominant performance without starters Ronnie Brewer (groin) and Andrei Kirilenko (calf). Both are day-to-day.

"That was a pretty fun game," said point guard Deron Williams, who had 12 points and 16 assists. "We had a couple guys out still, but pretty much like all season at home we had guys come in and step up."

One of the guys that stepped up was C.J. Miles, who had a career-high 29 points with four 3-pointers while going 12-for-17 from the field in his 13th start of the season. He was one of seven Utah players to score in double figures.

The Jazz could need another well-rounded effort to beat the Timberwolves, who despite their struggles this season, have won seven of their last 13 games.

Minnesota gave another one of the league's top teams a challenge on Tuesday night, when it built a 21-point lead over Central Division winner Detroit. The Wolves, however, blew that lead and were outscored 29-18 in the fourth quarter of the 94-90 loss.

"We're very disappointed we let this one go," forward Craig Smith said. "We really beat ourselves by letting them back into the ballgame."

Al Jefferson, Minnesota's leading scorer (21.0) and rebounder (11.4), ended his slump with a 9-for-12 shooting performance Tuesday. A 50.0 percent shooter on the season, he was just 23-for-59 (39.0 percent) in his previous three games, including 7-for-18 in the win over Utah on Sunday.

Jefferson has averaged 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds against the Jazz, but he's shooting just 38.0 percent against them.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer, meanwhile, has averaged 25.0 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 63.6 percent in the series.