MINNESOTA – After a tough couple of losses for the Phoenix Suns, they have a golden opportunity to gain some ground in the Western Conference Standings during a tight playoff race as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
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Mar 16, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after a game against the Boston Celtics during the second half at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Suns don’t just trail Minnesota in the standings; they’re chasing stability. Sitting two games back and staring at the play-in tournament, every possession now carries postseason gravity. The margin for error has evaporated. Now, a massive opportunity has arrived, as the Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards. Minnesota arrives without its star, sidelined with knee soreness, and removes an offensive engine that is averaging 29.5 points per game from the Timberwolves’ identity. His absence doesn’t just subtract scoring; it disrupts their spacing, tempo, and late-game shot creation.
Apr 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles the ball around Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) in the second half during game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
For Phoenix, they have to win the games they are supposed to win. That responsibility starts with Devin Booker. Last night’s 40-point performance wasn’t just volume scoring; it was control. Twenty-three consecutive points marked one of the most dominant individual stretches in franchise history, a reminder that Booker can bend defenses until they break. But tonight demands more than a heater; it demands orchestration. Minnesota’s defense will still crowd him, still test his patience. This is where games are decided mentally as much as physically.
Jan 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For Suns fans, they are invested in every game down the stretch as they hope to avoid the randomness of the play-in and reclaim agency over the season’s direction. For the locker room, it’s about identity: are they a team that reacts or one that dictates? Phoenix doesn’t need perfection tonight. It needs urgency, execution, and its best player to remind everyone why this season still belongs in their hands.
Devin Booker or Jaylen Brown, who truly had the better shooting night?
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
