PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns (24-21) and Minnesota Timberwolves (25-21) are each taking three-game win streaks into their Wednesday night clash at the Footprint Center.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As they prepare for their rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series, here is what we’re seeing from inside the arena pregame:
Injury report
Kevin Durant (left thumb injury) and Ryan Dunn (left ankle sprain) came into the game questionable with their injuries. Dunn was made available pregame. Durant went through his pregame routine to feel out the thumb injury he suffered towards the end of their 111-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. After going through his warmup, Durant was made available.
For Minnesota, Naz Reid (illness), Donte DiVincenzo (left great toe sprain) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (right mid-foot sprain) are out.
Pregame quotes
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer
On the Suns recent success winning eight out of 10 games:
“Well, it always takes execution on both ends. Defensively, I think, finding a rhythm, finding ways to get stops, being active, trying to be better on the defensive boards, covering for each other on that end, communicating on that end, getting out and running and playing with space off that. Offensively, we got a good group. We got guys that know how to play and can put the ball in the basket and they’ve been doing it at a high level.”
On having a double-digit lead disappear to a one possession game:
“Ultimately, wins are important, I think we like to value the process. We like to value, ‘How do you get to the to the end goal?’ and going back and looking at the film, it’s hard when a lead goes from 13 and all of a sudden, it’s at one or two, I know it was at least two. Offensively, the possessions we felt like we were good, we got some good shots. We didn’t necessarily convert them and they converted and maybe one or two defensive breakdowns or mistakes that all of a sudden, somebody makes four or five possessions in a row offensively, we don’t convert and it’s a two-point game. While we don’t like it, looking at film, it happened and for us to find a way to still come out with a win is important.”
On the gameplan when coaching Milwaukee to Phoenix running through one guy compared to multiple ball handlers:
“I think part of what’s great about coaching in the league and being part of the league is there’s just the greatness of our players and the greatness of the players on our roster here in Phoenix is trying to figure out an environment that puts them in their best situation. We’ve got lots of guys that can handle it, lots of guys that can score and play with more space, play on the perimeter, and try to get people involved and moving. Sometimes it’s been better than others, but it’s very different. You just got to figure out the best thing for your group and there are some core principles. I think spacing is always important but it’s the group here. It’s been I think we’re finding our way. I really appreciate the talent that we have and trying to get the most or best out of it.”
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch
On the big differences from the Suns this year versus last postseason:
“Well, I think like all teams, when you make these seismic moves, like they had done in the middle of the year before, it takes time. It feels like they got a little bit better kind of rhythm and cadence on how they want to all play with each other. And, of course, now they adjust to Bud (Suns Coach Mike Budenholzer) and the new system and everything like that. So, you are going to cycle through different personnel groupings to figure out what kind of really makes the system go and makes your best players better. So, it feels like they’ve gotten to that point a little bit more, and just being able to stagger those guys, it gives them, I think, multiple punches at you.”
On the weight of expectations:
“Yeah, I think the weight of expectations is often times what everyone else places on you, so you cannot deviate from what your internal expectations are. Hopefully, those are super high. Ours continue to be, we haven’t always met them this year, as you know, irrespective of what the outside world might think. We know that there’s been changes, we’re working through them. It’s probably taking longer, all the things we’ve talked about a million times. But our internal expectations remain high, and those things are to continue to develop our young core, to develop an identity and a style of play and meet that standard every single night, which is why we’re so disappointed the other night in Atlanta when we didn’t.”
On Julius Randle:
“Yeah, obviously had working knowledge of Julius (Randle) really enjoyed our time together. He had a really good and efficient year for us there. You know, one thing I loved for him, loved about him then, and that’s something that we’ve really tried to lean into here, is his play making, using him as a primary playmaker. Sometimes, even initiating offense with the dribble, it’s been one of the kind of the catalyst for our better offense in the last month or so, he’s really kind of triggering that. And, he can score, he’s got a lot of lot to his game, but for us and what we need and what we really value with the way he plays, that’s probably been the best thing that we’ve kind of tapped into, that we had also used him in that capacity in New Orleans.”
Starting lineups
Phoenix Suns
- Tyus Jones
- Devin Booker
- Nick Richards
- Kevin Durant
- Royce O’Neale
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Mike Conley
- Anthony Edwards
- Rudy Gobert
- Julius Randle
- Jaden McDaniels
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
