Just as they did Tuesday in Toronto, the Wolves squandered a double-digit, first-half lead and lost because of a porous defense that now has allowed an average of 119 points the past two nights.

At least Kevin Love played in the fourth quarter of this one. Scored a career-high 24 and for the sixth time already this season had a career-high 15 rebounds.

Mike Miller looks like a different player since the All-Star break, both in the way he moves and with his shooting strokes. His 21 points were the most he has scored since he had a season-high 25 in that double-overtime loss to San Antonio int he season’s fourth game, way back in November.

Ryan Gomes 24 points were his fifth consecutive 20 point game, setting another career best.

But for all the individual achievement, the Wolves still couldn’t defensively sustain the pace of play at which they want to play now that Al Jefferson is gone for the season. They got outscored 37-22 in the fourth quarter and allowed 69 second-half points.

Afterward, Kevin McHale lamented that second-half defensive lapse, but for the second consecutive game the Wolves might have lost this one by not being able to keep, or extend, that first-half lead they built. On Tuesday, they led Toronto by 16 in the second quarter. On Wednesday, the Wolves led the Jazz 24-12 after eight minutes.

They’ve now lost four straight, nine of 10 and 12 of 14. They are 1-6 without Jefferson.

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