SALT LAKE CITY, April 13 (UPI) -- Al Jefferson equaled the best performance of his career Friday in launching Utah to a key 107-100 victory over Minnesota.
The Jazz began the evening a game behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference and Utah kept pressure on its rival thanks to Jefferson's big effort.
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He scored 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, both figures tying his career best. Jefferson helped the Jazz pull away late after they had trailed with less than 4 minutes to play.
Both Mo Williams and Randy Foye scored 16 points for Utah, which had to shoot 58 percent from the field to fight off the Timberwolves.
J.J. Barea scored 23 points off the bench to pace Minnesota.
