For the second time around this season, the Phoenix Suns pulled off another upset victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves after securing a 108-105 win on Tuesday, all while most of their key players are currently on the injured list—Devin Booker and Jalen Green.
The last time they met, the Wolves blew an eight-point lead in 45 seconds and allowed the Suns to get an epic comeback in their In-Season tournament matchup back on November 22. This time, Minnesota still was out of its element despite another brilliant offensive output from Anthony Edwards, proving how the Suns are slowly becoming the Wolves’ kryptonite this season.
Mark Williams Leads Phoenix Without Booker
The Phoenix Suns were indeed shorthanded in terms of offensive firepower; however, Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Collin Gillespie stepped up to the plate to balance out Anthony Edwards’ excellent night. Williams, the newly acquired big man from the Hornets, led the team in scoring and put up 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including a rare three-pointer, which is also his first career triple. Gillespie, who went undrafted in 2022, continues to surprise the fans after recording 19 points, while Brooks also chipped in with 18 points.
Although they were without their best player (Devin Booker), the Suns still managed to go toe-to-toe against one of the top offensive teams in the West, part of which was due to head coach Jordan Ott’s in-game adjustments.
Gobert’s Absence Proved to be Crucial in the Final Moments
The win was just an arm’s reach, with Anthony Edwards exploding for 40 points and 9 rebounds on an efficient 15-for-21 shooting from the field. Unfortunately, midway through the third quarter, Rudy Gobert committed a flagrant foul 2 after lashing out at Mark Williams in transition, resulting in an automatic ejection.
The Wolves had to survive without their best rim protector, with Julius Randle and Naz Reid taking turns guarding the paint. However, Reid, the former 6th Man of the Year, wasn’t as impactful on defense as well as on the offensive end after only making 6 points and missing 10 of his 12 attempts. Although Randle had 21 points and 8 assists, he cancelled his productive game with inefficient shot-making in the final quarter. Moreover, Donte DiVincenzo, Mike Conley, and Jaden McDaniels were just as bad, combining for only 2-for-19.
Gobert, who’s been averaging 11 PPG and 10.2 RPG, left the game with 15 points and 8 rebounds. The 4-time Defensive Player of the Year would have allowed them to take this home win with Ant-Man going crazy everywhere on the floor. The Wolves are now 15-9 after snapping their 5-game win streak and are just one game above the Phoenix Suns (14-10), who analysts predicted to have a terrible season.
Both teams will meet for their final duel on March 18, 2026, to conclude the regular season series.
