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C.J. Miles' seventh start of the season resulted in the best game of his career.

Miles scored 40 points — 11 more than his previous career high — to lead the Jazz to a 119-104 win against Minnesota on Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena.

Miles scored 13 points during a five-possession stretch late in the first quarter, triggering an electrifying performance that gave Utah back-to-back wins for the first time in two months.

"He did a tremendous job," said Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. "He didn't rush any shots. He really waited for them to come within the system. He looked for good shots."

Miles made 14-of-18 shots, including 6 of 7 from the 3-point line, as the Jazz avenged a 21-point loss to the Timberwolves last Friday in Minnesota.

"I thought he was awesome," said Raja Bell, who started at shooting guard for most of the season before being replaced by Miles.

"He hit some huge shots, but that's not surprising. That's what he does. He's a really, really talented scorer. It was an awesome game — pretty cool."

Miles' performance left rookie Jeremy Evans wide-eyed and smiling.

"It was like, 'Wow, he's on fire,' " Evans said. "You just hope he keeps going and scores as much as we need to win."

No problem.

Miles outscored the Timberwolves 13-7 in the final 2:24 of the first quarter. Utah wiped out a 25-22 deficit, took a 35-32 lead and never trailed again.

"I just tried to be aggressive and get some looks," Miles said. "I went to the basket early. Then I got some good looks from outside and got running from there, I guess."

After Al Jefferson went to the bench for his first breather of the game, Corbin called on Miles.

He delivered. In a 51-second span, he made three 3-point shots.

That's when Miles realized it could turn into a special night.

"At that end of the first quarter, I kind of figured," he said. "When they took Al out, the plays that were called benefited me a little bit. They were my plays, and I was able to knock some shots down."

Jefferson finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz, who used a 7-0 run in the opening 2:22 of the second quarter to break away.

Rookie Gordon Hayward assisted on two baskets by Jefferson, and Evans dunked a lob from Earl Watson to make it 42-32.

Utah still owned a 10-point lead when Miles returned to the game and quickly scored.

His basket triggered a 17-4 run, which gave the Jazz a 65-42 lead.

At halftime, Miles had 25 points, and Utah owned a 71-50 lead.

In the third quarter, the Jazz opened an 86-51 lead, but the Timberwolves suddenly snapped to life.

Kevin Love sparked a 24-11 run, which trimmed Utah's lead to 92-80 heading into the fourth quarter.

After Minnesota got within 10, however, Jefferson scored twice, Andrei Kirilenko added two baskets and Bell dunked after a steal by Watson.

The Timberwolves never got closer. Beyond Miles and Jefferson, the Jazz got a lift from new point guard Devin Harris, who finished with 12 points and four assists in 26 minutes.

Before the game, he was questionable because of a strained hamstring.

"Our ball movement was better," Harris said. "The ball was moving side to side, and we were getting open shots. I saw what I've seen in the past from this Jazz offense."

Said Corbin: "The guys did a great job right from the beginning — being focused on the things we talked about. … They made some runs at us. But our guys did a good job in the fourth quarter — controlling the tempo."

Storylines

R In short • C.J. Miles scores a career-high 40 points and Al Jefferson adds 26, as the Jazz defeat Minnesota, 119-104.

Key moment • After the Jazz see a 25-point lead shrink to 92-82 early in the fourth quarter, they convert eight straight possessions.

Key stat • Miles hits 14-of-18 shots, and the Jazz shoot 54.8 percent. All five starters score at least 12 points.