PHOENIX — Devin Booker had quite possibly the worst game of his Phoenix Suns career in a 124-109 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, pushing them further from the Dallas Mavericks for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Booker finished with just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting (0-of-6 from 3), four turnovers and was a game-low minus-20 in 39 minutes on the floor. He didn’t score his first points until there was just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Booker did add six assists to his stat line, which tracks with the stellar playmaking streak he has been on.
On the bright side, two-way guard Collin Gillespie had a career night, scoring a career-high 22 points and 10 assists on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 23 points, breaking his three-game streak of 30-plus games.
The loss moves Phoenix (35-39) one game behind Dallas (36-38) for the 10th seed and final spot in the West play-in with eight games remaining and matchups against some of the league’s top forces ahead.
Wolves extend lead, Edwards returns in 3rd quarter
Anthony Edwards returned in the third quarter and Minnesota pushed its lead to as much as 22. Phoenix had no answer as Devin Booker continued to struggle and scored his first points of the game as they went down 92-75 ahead of the final frame.
Collin Gillespie actually led the Suns in scoring with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including shooting perfect from beyond the arc on three attempts. Kevin Durant followed with 16 points and five rebounds. Booker had just three points through three quarters and didn’t score his first points until there was around three minutes left in the period. He at least made up for it by dishing out five assists.
Julius Randle continued to lead the Wolves with 25 points, five rebounds and seven assists on 9-of-15 shooting. He came into this matchup averaging 28 points per game through three games.
Mar 28, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) works past Phoenix Suns guard Ryan Dunn (0) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Booker’s struggles persist, O’Neale erupts in 2nd quarter
Devin Booker finished the first half scoreless on just five shot attempts in 20 minutes. Royce O’Neale erupted for 12 points on four 3-pointers to keep Phoenix within reach of Minnesota, down 57-45 at halftime.
O’Neale and Kevin Durant led the Suns with 12 points each against the Anthony Edwards-less Wolves. On the bright side, Phoenix shot 9-of-19 from beyond the arc, the same as Minnesota, but the Wolves shot and made eight more free throws than Phoenix. Minnesota’s rim pressure was the difference in the first half.
Julius Randle led the Wolves with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists in just 16 minutes in the half. Every Timberwolf that got run in the first half scored. Different from Phoenix, which had three players who went scoreless in at at least seven minutes of play.
Mar 28, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) goes to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) in the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Randle dominates Suns, Edwards exits in 1st quarter
Phoenix’s frontcourt had no answer for Julius Randle in the first quarter as the forward scored 12 points and four rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting in 10 minutes to give the Wolves and early 27-21 lead despite Anthony Edwards leaving to the locker room after catching a Kevin Durant elbow to the face midway through the period.
Durant got off to a slow start but finished the quarter leading the Suns with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting. Collin Gillespie added five points of his own to go along with two assists. Devin Booker shot 0-of-3 from the field in the opening quarter and was a minus-10 in nine minutes, continuing to struggle from the field for this stretch of the season.
Led by Randle, all of Minnesota’s starters scored in the opening period and shot 48% from the field and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc as a team.
Mar 28, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves medical staff assist guard Anthony Edwards (5) after he was hurt playing against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Injury report
Both teams have been fortuitous on the injury report lately with little-to-no notable injuries to their active rosters. Phoenix only had Bradley Beal in its injury report, who was out for the sixth consecutive game with a left hamstring strain. Minnesota only missed Terrance Shannon Jr., who was out with right groin soreness.
Could the Phoenix Suns waive Bradley Beal to get off massive contract?
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenoNBA, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
