Frank Vogel Postgame Press Conference After Phoenix Suns (5-6) Defeat Minnesota Timberwolves (8-3) 133-115
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Although the Suns got unfortunate news just an hour before tip-off that Bradley Beal wouldn’t be available, the two faces of the Suns stepped up big time against a very hot Timberwolves’ team, who had won seven straight and was ranked as the No. 1 defense in the NBA.
That did not matter for the Suns, who faced Minnesota on two days of rest, while the Timberwolves were playing on the second night of a back to back.
Phoenix crushed the Timberwolves 133-115 shooting 60% from the field and 55% from three-point range.
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant could not have had a more ideal game in Booker’s return from a five-game absence with a right calf sprain.
Booker finished with 31 points, five assists and four rebounds in only 26 minutes in his return.
Durant finished with 31 points, six assists and six rebounds in 35 minutes.
In total, six Suns scored in double figures.
“(Booker’s) leadership on our team is really invaluable,” Vogel said. “He’s leading when he’s not in uniform. In film sessions and practices, he’s our most vocal guy. And he’s really taken the reins of that this year with this team. And even more so, on the floor, as the point guard, running the show. We ask our point guards or primary ball handlers to get us in action, okay, and I will put us in action if I want to see it, but I want them to own their team, and he really takes control of that. And then obviously the shotmaking, the attention that he draws, bringing two to the ball, his ability to pass the basketball out of it, is really exceptional and underrated part of his game. And he was great tonight.”
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
