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Pregame notes: Suns seek first win against Timberwolves in Game 3

© Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s what we’re seeing from Footprint Center before the Phoenix Suns take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their first-round series:

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Injury Update

Phoenix Suns: Grayson Allen (right ankle sprain) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson (right hip pointer) AVAILABLE

Starters

Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Royce O’Neale, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić

Minnesota Timberwolves: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl Anthony-Towns, Rudy Gobert

Pregame Press Conference Quotes

Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel (via Suns)

  • On what issues the Suns faced during that third quarter in Game Two that caused the game to flip: “Well, it is just two games and it’s been different things in each game, but (Anthony) Edwards getting it going during that stretch, was a big part of it.”
  • On if the point of emphasis is executing now: “It is always a point of emphasis. Really just our habits. We have to work on it, not just executing the T-Wolves gameplan, but executing the things that we know work for us and it all falls under the bucket of our guys playing well. Doing all the little things and doing it at a higher rate.”
  • On the physicality the Timberwolves bring on defense and what effect that can have on the Suns’ offense: “We have to screen better. I think we are playing physical too, so I think the first game they won the physicality battle, but I thought it was pretty even in Game Two, even though we lost that game. I thought our guys brought it on a higher level and I expect them to again tonight, but we have to screen better. That is a point of emphasis for tonight.”

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch (via Suns)

  • On the traits you have to lean into on the road in the playoffs: “I think it is going to continue to be important that we get off to a great start, take care of the ball. We have done a pretty good job of that on the road, take care of the ball. Play with the same physicality that we have been playing with. Just play the game in our minds, not with the emotions of the building. We know what their mindset is going to be coming in, we are going to have to be able to match that.”
  • On how important it is to switch up the coverages on defense: “I mean these guys are so good, they have seen everything. If you give anybody a steady diet of it they get in a rhythm. We saw that in Game One with KD (Kevin Durant). Just have to try to keep everybody off balance as best you can. So far, we have been able to do that, a lot of talented players over there that have answers to everything.”
  • On the steps taken to get to be such a defensive team: “Just starts with competing, but you have to define for your players what competing means. Competing might be running back on defense harder, might be getting through a screen with a little more physicality. There are all these little things you have to be demanding of your guys to do that. Ball contain, competing on the ball is a big thing of ours. We have guys who can do it, Jaden McDaniels, Anthony (Edwards), you know Nickeil (Alexander- Walker) joins us. Then once you see these guys doing it, it spreads throughout the team and becomes a little bit contagious. Then guys don’t want to let down the mindset of what a good defensive team is, they don’t want to let down their teammates. We talked about day one, how we felt we could be really, really good there; it had to be our identity. We felt offense was a work in progress for us, we had some stuff we had to figure out along the way but we knew we could be good defensively right away.”

Pregame Video

(See the latest on @BurnCitySuns/X)

Suns-Wolves Game 3 preview: Can Suns prove Kevin Durant’s statement?

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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

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