After being spanked by one athletic, talented team, the Jazz face a clone tonight at the Delta Center. Just what they need.
   
Although Portland's 10-10 record isn't as impressive as Minnesota's -- the Timberwolves moved to 15-5 with Wednesday's easy, 98-87 victory over Utah -- the teams possess enough similar traits to make Jazz coach Jerry Sloan uneasy.
   
Big and long," he said. "We've had problems dealing with teams like that."
   
Portland has beaten the Jazz three straight times, going back to last year. In November, Rasheed Wallace scored 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting and the Blazers never trailed in a 101-83 victory.
   
was just as dominant.
   
With Kevin Garnett and Joe Smith controlling the interior -- just as Wallace did for Portland -- the Timberwolves blew away the Jazz with a 31-13 run in the third quarter. Utah trailed by as many as 20 points, thanks in part to 18 turnovers.