Suns at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves looked like they had back-to-back wins sewn up before letting things fall apart late on Saturday. The Phoenix Suns, who visit the Timberwolves on Monday, are familiar with letting games slip away and dropped six of their last eight contests.
Minnesota looked like it would use a win at Chicago earlier in the week as a stepping stone, especially when they led the Houston Rockets by 12 points with under three minutes left on Saturday before a collapse led to a 111-109 overtime setback "I'd lie if I said I didn't think we were going to win," Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters. "I think we're going to win when we step in the building. But especially when you're up by 12 with three minutes left. So we all felt good about our chances." The Suns watched Russell Westbrook record 22 assists in a triple-double while dropping a 114-101 decision at Oklahoma City on Saturday to fall to 4-11 on the road. Phoenix point guard Eric Bledsoe is battling through a shooting funk and is 9-of-27 from the floor in the last two games - both losses.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, FSN Arizona-plus (Phoenix), FSN North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE SUNS (8-19): Bledsoe's funk comes on the heels of a three-game stretch in which he scored at least 30 points in each game and totaled 25 assists. Inconsistency runs through most of the Phoenix backcourt, and second-year guard Devin Booker recorded his first 30-plus game this month with 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting Saturday after going 9-of-35 from the floor in the previous two contests. Reserve guard Brandon Knight is slumping along with Bledsoe and is 9-of-28 from the field in the last three contests.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (7-19): Minnesota gets more consistent production from the likes of Towns, who became the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Lowe with at least 40 points, 15 rebounds and five assists on Saturday. Zach LaVine is also becoming a player the team can count on for points but committed eight turnovers on Saturday while Towns added six in the loss. "We had a compilation of mistakes," coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "A team that can shoot threes the way they do, they can make up ground in a hurry. And they did. Turnovers hurt us, also.''
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Suns C Tyson Chandler failed to reach double figures in rebounds in the last two games after pulling down over 20 boards in the previous two contests.
2. LaVine's eight turnovers on Saturday were one more than his total from the previous four games.
3. Minnesota earned a 98-85 win at Phoenix on Nov. 25 behind 25 points from Andrew Wiggins.