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Minneapolis • As always, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan did it his way. Not the normal way. Not the predictable way. But the winning way.

He screamed encouragement, fiercely challenged his team at every crucial moment, and constantly barked at officials.

Then he proceeded to make the right calls at the right time, including playing rookie Gordon Hayward — who had recorded just two minutes in his previous two games — all 12 minutes during the fourth quarter Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The deceptively resourceful Sloan again squeezed every ounce of possible life, passion and commitment out of his team, guiding Utah to a 112-107 win against the Timberwolves at the Target Center.

Utah finished 3-1 during its four-game road trip. The victory marked the sixth time in 30 contests that the Jazz have rallied from at least 15 points down to pull out a victory.

It was a fitting tribute to Sloan, who passed Pat Riley for third on the NBA's all-time coaching wins list, and now possesses 1,211 victories. Only Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens (1,332) remain in front of the 23-year Jazz coach, who again refused to draw attention to himself following a win that saw Utah outscore Minnesota 41-24 during the fourth quarter.

Always quick to pass the spotlight, Sloan said that he took far more pride in the Jazz's confident, spirited victory than his own personal accomplishment.

"I'm not into numbers and stuff like that. I never have been," Sloan, 68, said. "I have a great organization to work for that's given me the opportunity to stay there for a long time. And I'm very thankful for that and the coaches that I have to work with me.

"It's not about me. It's what we try to do as a staff, and our guys are involved a great deal."

While Sloan was reluctant to talk about himself, longtime friend and coaching companion Phil Johnson stepped forward. During the same day that 70-year-old coaching legend Larry Brown unexpectedly turned over the reins of the Charlotte Bobcats, the resilient, proud Sloan — whose primary characteristics have been quickly adopted by his team this season — continued to tightly hold on to the Jazz.

"It's an incredible accomplishment," said Johnson, a Utah assistant. "More than anything, longevity is being in the right situation where we have a chance to win games. That's what it's all about."

The Jazz's (21-9) chances initially appeared very slim versus a Timberwolves (6-24) team that knocked down 6 of its first 8 3-point attempts and held a convincing 15-point lead with 16.7 seconds left in the third quarter.

Then Sloan got creative. Inserting Hayward and veteran reserve point guard Earl Watson as Utah's Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson struggled with fouls, the Jazz sharpened their focus and slowly chipped away at Minnesota's advantage. Watson was then substituted for Deron Williams (team-high 25 points), and Utah's comeback was on.

Current Jazz and ex-Timberwolves center Al Jefferson overcome tight nerves to carry his new team during the final period. Trading baskets with Minnesota's Kevin Love (25 points, 19 rebounds), Jefferson poured in 12 fourth-quarter points while scoring 21 of his 23 points during the second half.

Utah then took its first lead since the 10:11 mark of the first quarter when Millsap converted a three-point play with 33.5 seconds to go. It was 108-107 Jazz. Jefferson had stepped up. Utah was doing the unthinkable again. And Sloan, a coach who refuses to think about anything but the present during the day-to-day world of the NBA, was taking one more victorious step forward.

"That's ridiculous. That's quite an accomplishment," said Hayward, referring to Sloan's win total. "Congrats to coach on that, and I think it was a good come-from-behind win for him for that."

bsmith@sltrib.comTwitter: tribjazz —

Storylines

R In short • The Jazz rally from 15 points down late in the third quarter to defeat the Timberwolves on the road.

Key stat • Utah's Deron Williams, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson combine to score 71 points.

Key moment • Down 101-94 late in the fourth quarter, Utah uses a 7-0 run to find new life.