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| 7:00 PM PT8:00 PM MT9:00 PM CT10:00 PM ET2:00 GMT10:00 7:00 PM MST9:00 PM EST6:00 UAE (+1)03:0022:00 ET8:00 PM CTNaN:� , March 29, 2023 Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona Attendance: 17,071 |
Kevin Durant set to return when Suns host Wolves
Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
- Anthony Edwards scored 31 points in Minnesota's 121-116 win over Phoenix when the teams last met. Edwards has two 30-point games against the Suns with those two games being Minnesota's only two wins in the series since Edwards was drafted in 2020.
- Minnesota extended its win streak to four games with a 119-115 win over Sacramento with all four victories coming by six or fewer points. It is the third time in team history that Minnesota has won four straight such wins, with the team never doing so in five consecutive games.
- Jaden McDaniels led the T'Wolves with 20 points in the win over the Kings, his third 20-point game of the month. Before this March, McDaniels had never had more than one 20-point game in a single calendar month during his NBA career.
- Phoenix committed just seven turnovers in a 117-103 win over the Jazz after having just eight the game before against the Sixers. The 15 turnovers are the fewest in a two-game span for the team this season.
- Chris Paul had 10 assists and nine points against Utah on Monday, his eighth game this season with double-digit assists and single-digit points. That is the most such games of any NBA player in 2022-23.
- On Monday, Rudy Gobert notched 16 points and 16 rebounds, his 13th game this season with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds. The only NBA players with more such games this season are Anthony Davis (17) and Nikola Jokic (14).
All signs are pointing upward for the Phoenix Suns, who reportedly will have star Kevin Durant back in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
Acquired from the Brooklyn Nets at last month's trade deadline, Durant played three road games before suffering a sprained left ankle during pregame warmups on March 8.
Phoenix (40-35) has gone 4-6 with Durant out of the lineup but still holds the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Suns fans have been waiting patiently for the two-time Finals MVP to make his home debut.
"I always use the term 'checking the boxes,'" Suns coach Monty Williams said of Durant's comeback journey. "You have to get the pain and swelling out and all of that and then you progress onto the floor with shots. And I've seen him go from cardio to shooting to be able to get up and down a little bit and get himself prepared to go to the next level."
Adding Durant to the mix comes at a good time, as the Suns appear to be trending in the right direction. Phoenix won its second straight game on Monday, beating the Utah Jazz 117-103.
Devin Booker scored 24 points to lead the Suns, who outscored Utah 57-25 in bench points. Deandre Ayton returned after missing four games with a bruised hip and scored 14 points, while reserves Terrence Ross, Cameron Payne and Bismack Biyombo combined for 36.
Booker has averaged 31.7 points in the 10 games without Durant, but Phoenix has also received a boost from its bench over the past week.
"It's going to be nice," Suns guard Chris Paul said of Durant's return. "A guy who means that much to your team, you don't know what you look like until he's playing. A lot of guys have been stepping up, filling voids, but it'll be good to see what we're going to look like."
Phoenix has won two of the first three meetings this season against Minnesota (39-37), which is in a battle for the sixth spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
Minnesota extended its winning streak to four games with a 119-115 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Jaden McDaniels scored 20 points to lead the Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the game due to injury management for his right calf strain, but he should be available against the Suns.
Naz Reid scored 18 points in the win over Sacramento, while Anthony Edwards scored 17 and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds. The win moved Minnesota within 1 1/2 games of the Suns for the No. 4 seed.
"We know we have the talent and the personnel to be able to beat anybody on any given night," Gobert said. "Really out of urgency and consistency. ... We play every game like it's our last and we play every game like there's no tomorrow. That's the mindset that we need."
The Wolves' recent surge has been sparked by Reid, who is averaging 20.2 points off the bench in the last five games.
"He's such a huge shot in the arm," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said of Reid. "He's a mismatch problem a lot of the time. His energy, his activity. He makes big shots for us, can finish at the rim, gives us a rolling threat. Just everything. I'm really pleased with his defense, too."
--Field Level Media
Updated March 29, 2023
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