Game Recap: Suns get punked on their home floor, fall to Wolves, 116-98

The Phoenix Suns looked extra soft tonight in a game they needed.

This Phoenix Suns season has been rough. It feels like we watch the same game every night. Phoenix starts strong, then hits a brick wall the second things get physical or slow down.

They led by as many as 12 points and started strong. That did not last. Anthony Edwards simply owns the Suns, as he poured in 44 points on 22 shots to lead the Wolves to the win.

Top Performers

• Kevin Durant — 26 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 10-23 FG
• Bradley Beal — 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 8-15 FG
• Anthony Edwards — 44 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 12-22 FG
• Donte DiVincenzo — 24 points, 6 steals, 2 assists, 8 threes, 8-14 FG

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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First Half

The Suns got off to a strong 9-2 start after giving up the first bucket of the game.

It was a much-needed injection of energy early on. Bol Bol got in on the fun, too.

The defensive intensity was high for the opening five minutes of action, with Phoenix closing out strong, forcing turnovers and blocking shots.

Nick Richards exited the game early in the first quarter after catching a mean elbow from Julius Randle on a drive to the basket.

Phoenix extended their lead to 10 after a Devin Booker transition bucket to make it 15-5 with just under 6:45 remaining in the quarter.

As soon as it looked like the Suns were in control, they reverted to their old ways with untimely turnovers and bad shots. Those possessions led to a Minnesota 8-0 run to cut what was once a 12-point lead down to just three.

Coming out of the timeout, they made it four straight turnovers.

The Suns finished the first quarter up 34-28 after a Tyus Jones 33-foot triple just before the clock expired. They shot 59% from the field in the opening quarter.

Phoenix opened the 2nd quarter strong, picking up where they left off early to push their lead up to 10.

Overall, the second quarter was sort of a snoozefest. The teams combined for just 27 points through the opening 10 minutes of action. It was a combination of bad shooting and decent defense, but mostly just choppy basketball.

The slow pace of play was in Minnesota’s favor, as Eddie Johnson alluded to in the broadcast.

Heading into the half, Phoenix led 51-49. Booker was the only Sun in double figures, with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting.

2nd Half

The third quarter was off to a faster pace, with the teams trading quick buckets. Anthony Edwards got hot from deep, hitting three straight triples to open the quarter.

KD hit this tough shot. That was fun. The rest of the quarter was not.

Minnesota stormed ahead for their first lead of the game as the momentum shifted. Edwards woke up, and the Wolves’ role players followed suit.

Any time the game gets physical or slows down, it’s not in the Suns’ favor.

Anthony Edwards had 15 points at halftime. He poured in 16 points halfway through the 3rd quarter alone to extend Minnesota’s lead to eight.

A 17-3 run gave Minnesota a 13-point lead with just under 4 minutes left in the third.

The bleeding got worse as the game went on. It felt like watching the same movie we’ve seen all season long. Strong start. Mild adversity. Team folds.

Rinse and repeat.

The Suns had an embarrassing stretch in the 4th that was showered by boos. Minnesota was dancing, flexing, and celebrating after a sequence that led to two highlight-reel plays in a row.

Then this is how the game concluded. Edwards almost had the dunk of the century.

There’s not much else to write about from that final quarter. On to the next one.

Up Next?

The Suns will host the Clippers at home on Tuesday night.

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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