In a thrilling match between the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards left fans awestruck with a jaw-dropping slam dunk over Jazz forward John Collins. The electrifying play came midway through the third quarter when Nickeil Alexander-Walker found Edwards cutting into the lane, and the former No. 1 overall pick soared over Collins for a highlight-reel dunk that rattled the rim.
Unfortunately, the play took a sour turn as Collins sustained an injury when Edwards" hand inadvertently struck him in the face during the dunk. Collins had to leave the game following the incident, leaving the Jazz without one of their key players.
Anthony Edwards with the dunk of the year pic.twitter.com/4mSVgBn9TB
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 19, 2024
As the Jazz geared up to face the Timberwolves, there was anticipation for Lauri Markkanen"s potential return, which would bolster Utah"s lineup. Markkanen"s presence would provide the Jazz with a more complete roster compared to their previous games. However, Kris Dunn was sidelined for the Friday game against the Atlanta Hawks due to rest, adding to the team"s injury concerns.
Utah continues to miss the services of Jordan Clarkson, who remains sidelined due to a groin injury. While Mike Conley made a strong return to Utah with a 25-point performance, the absence of Rudy Gobert due to a rib injury was notable during the recent matchup.
Gobert"s return against the Timberwolves was uncertain, adding to the suspense surrounding the game. Additionally, the Timberwolves faced their own injury concerns with Kyle Anderson and Monte Morris listed as questionable due to shoulder and hamstring strains, respectively.
Despite the challenges, the Timberwolves have been performing exceptionally well, boasting the third-best record in the Western Conference at 46-21, trailing just one game behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. As both teams navigated through injuries and lineup changes, fans eagerly awaited the outcome of this highly anticipated matchup.
