Phoenix facing true challenge without two starters, can the Suns beat the Timberwolves at home Friday night?
The Phoenix Suns start group play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Friday night. The Suns are 6-2 at home this season so far. Phoenix is playing without starters Grayson Allen and Jalen Green.
The question of the record-breaking bench stepping up against a talented Timberwolves team is what we will be looking for.
Phoenix dominating the boards in the first quarter, ended the first quarter with a 32-26 lead over Minnesota.
Coming out hot to start the second quarter, playing great defense and creating turnovers. The Timberwolves had to take a timeout after the Suns extended the lead 41-28.
With 8:28 left in the second quarter the Suns took a 14-point lead, their biggest lead of the game.
Phoenix extended that lead to 18 points, but Minnesota was not going away that easy.
Responding by causing multiple turnovers, cutting the lead down to 12 and allowing the Timberwolves to get back in this game having 5 turnovers in last 3.30 minutes.
Phoenix Suns guard filling in for the injured Grayson Allen, Gillespie having a hot first half with 16 points.
The Suns were able to get out of the first half with a 13-point lead, holding off the Timberwolves comeback.
To start the second half the Suns faced the same issues they have found themselves in the past. Failing to maintain the lead with six minutes left in the third quarter, Minnesota took a one-point lead.
For the rest of the third quarter each team traded the lead. Edwards came alive, taking control of the offense and scoring at will.
Minnesota took a five-point lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter, their biggest lead of the night.
Finally with two minutes remaining in the third quarter Coach Ott lets Devin Booker hit the bench with 4 fouls.
A thriller in the valley, Timberwolves up by one point going into the fourth quarter.
Dunn takes it hard to the rim on Rudy Golbert and took a hard hit to the tailbone when he hit the ground. Made one free-throw, missed the other. Suns down five points with eight minutes left.
Coach Ott forced to take a timeout with 8:29 remaining in the game. After Timberwolves hit back-to-back three's, extending Minnesota lead to eight-points.
With 3:23 left in the game Phoenix took the lead back, but at the cost of Devin Booker fouling out of the game.
Undisciplined defense put Phoenix in the bonus in both quarters.
Edwards had 41 points with still time remaining in the fourth quarter.
With a minute left in the game Minnesota broke away with an eight-point lead.
Watching the Suns play was very frustrating down the stretch with sloppy play and undisciplined fouls. Was truly the definition of "shooting themselves in the foot".
In my opinion the Suns were the better team overall. Down the stretch the Suns youth stood out.
The Youth ended up being a positive a Colin Gillespie ends up hitting the game winning shot for the Suns, with Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks fouling out.