SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz hold a two-point edge over the Minnesota Timberwolves in what’s been an entertaining and well-played first half Saturday night.

C.J. Miles scored 11 points and Paul Millsap had 10 for the Jazz, who went to the locker room with a 54-52 lead over the flashy Timberwolves.

Rookie Ricky Rubio — say that five times fast — hasn’t disappointed in his first showing at EnergySolutions Arena. The Spanish playmaker totaled nine points and seven assists — many of the highlight variety — in the opening half.

Derrick Williams and Wesley Johnson scored a combined 21 points, while power forward standout Kevin Love has been limited to just seven points and six rebounds.

Minnesota (7-8) has won three games in a row, including a last-second victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

The Jazz (9-5) are looking to get back to their winning ways after falling to Dallas 94-91 on Thursday.

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Stats that stand out from the New Orleans Hornets 87-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night.

1. 37. Timberwolves first-half points, fewest by a Hornets’ opponent this season.

2. 0. Field goals made by Hornets forward Chris Kaman in 10 attempts.

3. 19. Hornets’ season-high fast break points, but only six of those in the final three quarters.

4. 7 and 4. Career high in points and rebounds by Hornets forward Gustavo Ayon.

5. 17. Points scored by Timberwolves forward Kevin Love in the third quarter.

+/- rating for every Hornet player

Ayon +5

Summers +3

Landry +1

Belinelli 0

Jack -3

Kaman -3

Aminu -5

Smith -7

C. Johnson -8

Vasquez -8

Okafor -10

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Hornets 21, Timberwolves 16

Hornets points in the paint: 18.

Timberwolves points in the paint: four.

Hornets second chance points: four.

Timberwolves second chance points: two.

Hornets fast-break points: 13.

Timberwolves fast-break points: 0.

Hornets biggest lead: eight.

Timberwolves biggest lead: 0.

Times tied: 0.

Hornets leading scorer: DaJuan Summers, seven.

Timberwolves leading scorer: Wesley Johnson, seven.

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Timberwolves 21, Hornets 17.

Hornets points in the paint: eight.

Timberwolves points in the paint: two.

Hornets second chance points: four.

Timberwolves second chance points: four.

Hornets fast-break points: one.

Timberwolves fast-break points: three.

Hornets biggest lead: seven.

Timberwolves biggest lead: 0.

Times tied: 0.

Hornets leading scorer: Emeka Okafor, eight.

Timberwolves leading scorer: Luke Ridnour, eight.

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Timberwolves 26, Hornets 13.

Hornets points in the paint: six.

Timberwolves points in the paint: six.

Hornets second chance points: eight.

Timberwolves second chance points: two.

Hornets fast-break points: 0.

Timberwolves fast-break points: two.

Hornets biggest lead: one.

Timberwolves biggest lead: 14.

Times tied: 0.

Hornets leading scorer: Okafor, four.

Timberwolves leading scorer: Kevin Love, 17.

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Hornets 29, Timberwolves 24.

Hornets points in the paint: 10.

Timberwolves points in the paints: two.

Hornets second chance points: six.

Timberwolves second chance points: six.

Hornets fast-break points: five.

Timberwolves fast-break points: 0.

Hornets biggest lead: 0.

Timberwolves biggest lead: 12.

Times tied: three.

Hornets leading scorer: Marco Belinelli, 12.

Timberwolves leading scorer: Love, 11.

Read More: Josh Howard (F – WAS), Kevin Durant (F – OKC), Michael Beasley (F – MIN), Kevin Love (F – MIN), Wayne Ellington (G – MIN), DeMarcus Cousins (F – SAC), Wesley Johnson (G – MIN), John Wall (G – WAS), Minnesota Timberwolves

Michael Beasley had great intentions when the the Minnesota Timberwolves forward announced intentions to hold the Michael Beasley All-Star Classic in Osseo, Minn., on Friday night. Unfortunately things aren’t exactly working out well for him as Kevin Love, John Wall and Kevin Durant have all had to bow out of the charity game.

The game was originally set to feature the four aforementioned players along with DeMarcus Cousins and Timberwolves teammates Derrick Williams and Wesley Johnson. With Love, Durant and Wall now out, however, the Star Tribune’s Jerry Zgoda reports a few changes have been made.

Organizers are working to add another star name or two. Beasley’s Timberwolves teammate Wayne Ellington and Washington’s Josh Howard have been added to the game.

They’ve changed ticket prices from $60, $120 and $300 to $40 for general admission, $80 for VIP reserved and $200 for one of 35 courtside seats.

All in all, it’s for charity and therefore a worthy cause regardless of who is going to play what amounts to being a meaningless game of basketball regardless.