There is no better remedy for the Timberwolves than a matchup with Phoenix.
Three days ago, Minnesota was blitzed by the Pacers in Indiana for its third loss in four games, and the hopes of evading the play-in tournament by securing a top six seed in the West was dwindling.
Phoenix entered Friday’s bout at Target Center as a winner of four of its previous five games. The Suns need every win they can accrue simply to pass Dallas in the race for the conference’s No. 10 seed and, thus, the final play-in spot.
The Suns had motivation and momentum. And none of that seems to matter when they meet the Wolves on the floor.
As has been the case in each of the previous seven meetings between these two teams prior to Friday’s tilt, Minnesota again beat Phoenix. And, per usual, it did so convincingly.
Phoenix again proved to have no answer for Minnesota’s defensive physicality nor offensive firepower as the Wolves cruised to a 124-109 victory.
Minnesota (42-32) scored 14 of the game’s first 18 points and never really looked back. The Wolves led by 12 at the break and Phoenix never even threatened to move within single digits from there.
Devin Booker struggled mightily, not scoring his first points of the night until late in the third quarter. Kevin Durant went 7 for 19 from the field. Even the buckets the Suns (35-39) did generate looked incredibly difficult.
The opposite was true for Minnesota, who had eight players score at least eight points, including six guys reaching double figures. Julius Randle had 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead the way, while Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Minnesota shot 53% from the floor and 49% from 3-point range, even on a night when it didn’t have Anthony Edwards for a quarter. Edwards missed the second frame after exiting the floor with a towel pressed against his face after seemingly getting poked in the eye. But the guard emerged from the tunnel to cheers for the team’s halftime warmups and scored 17 points over the final two frames.
Minnesota next plays Sunday, when it hosts Detroit.
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