It just had to be Ricky Rubio, didn't it?

The former Wolf returned to haunt his old team as he helped the Utah Jazz destroy their rivals in a crucial Western Conference game at Target Center.

It finished 121-97 to the Jazz, with Rubio top-scoring for Utah as he returned to his old stomping grounds.

He scored 23 points, including his first four 3-point attempts, and finished 9-of-14 from the field.

"It's always special," Rubio said after the game, "I played here six years and I have good memories over here, but tonight was about winning the game and we did a good job."

The Wolves entered the game with a 2-1 record over the Jazz this season, but Utah leveled it up and in the process, leapfrogged Minnesota in the standings.

It sees the Wolves drop from 5th to 7th place in the Western Conference, which if the season ended today would result in a playoff first-rounder against Golden State.

The Wolves have another huge game in Denver on Thursday against a Nuggets team just outside the playoff race in 9th, but just two games behind Minnesota.