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Pregame notes: Suns host Timberwolves for Game 4 down 3-0

© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s what we’re seeing from Footprint Center before the Phoenix Suns take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of their first-round series down 3-0:

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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 (Projected)

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 making adjustments in a “win or go home” game: “You have to be willing to take risks especially when your back is against the wall. I have had a lot of situations like that throughout my playoff career and this is no different. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get this win tonight.”
  • On defending against Karl-Anthony Towns: “He is a beast. He is a matchup nightmare because of his ability to score on smaller defenders down low, but also being able to space bigs outside the three-point line, so we just got to really compete on him whatever the matchup is. You got to guard what his advantage is and make sure you are early to help when he is attacking.”
  • On what the message is going into Game 4 on the verge of being swept: “We got to do everything we know that leads to winning basketball. We got to take care of the basketball, got to rebound, got to play with pace, generate open shots and hopefully put the defense in as many rotations as you can and you have to sit down and guard and win the war in the trenches. It is a line of scrimmage game, so all the contact you are going to see out there, fighting over screens, boxing out, all those types of things, we have to be a more physical team.”

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch (via Suns)

  • On what you need from your group if the Suns go to small ball lineups: “We have to get back, that group really ran it down the floor. Continue to guard all their shooting for sure and then just do the things that big teams do, continue to go to the glass at both ends, play with great physicality and great length.”
  • On what intangibles are needed to win a closeout game: “Same as we have been talking about since Game 1, stay on an even keel. Emotion in the building will be high, emotion from the opponent will be high, emotion from everyone will be high. You have to stay within the game, stay within the game plan, weather the storm. Then, just not try to beat yourself with silly play.”
  • On the preparation in between games: “Well, this has been a slow series. We have had two days in between every single game. When you are in these things, when you are in these things no matter if you are up or down in the series, the hardest thing I think is the waiting. When you play a game then you break it down, then you kind of know what you want to do, or what you need to do, or what you think they are going to do and how you need to counter it, you just want to go put it in action. So, the waiting for me is probably the toughest thing.”

Frank Vogel ‘confident’ he will be back next season with Suns

Pregame Video

(See the latest on @BurnCitySuns/X)

Suns-Wolves Game 4 preview: Can Suns avoid sweep?

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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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