The Phoenix Suns know they should get their offense going once more to get out of their skid.
But it surely’s one factor to know you need to rating. It is one other factor to truly do it.
The Suns will look to bounce again from their lowest scoring recreation of the season once they go to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Phoenix has misplaced two straight and three of its final 4, together with a 99-83 street loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Friday evening. The Suns shot 29.3 % (22 of 75) total and 24.3 % (9 of 37) from past the arc.
“We performed nice protection,” Suns veteran Royce O’Neale stated. “Offensively, we missed quite a lot of photographs, particularly extensive open.”
Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer agreed.
“We in all probability have to play a bit higher offensively,” he stated. “That is the benefit of taking part in in opposition to nice groups and good defenses. They check you. They make you be taught what you must work on, how you must enhance.
“We’ll be taught from (Friday evening) and be higher.”
The Timberwolves hope the Suns proceed to seek for solutions.
Minnesota returns residence after a disappointing street journey that included two straight losses to the Portland Path Blazers, adopted by a 130-126 time beyond regulation win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Anthony Edwards scored a team-high 36 factors on 14-of-27 capturing to guide the Timberwolves to their newest victory. Julius Randle scored 26 factors and Rudy Gobert notched a double-double with 11 factors and 11 rebounds.
“This recreation was tremendous vital,” Edwards stated. “I’m glad we had been capable of get the win.”
The Timberwolves have 5 gamers averaging double figures in scoring.
Edwards leads the group with 28.4 factors per recreation on 46.8 % capturing from the sector. Randle is subsequent with 20.6 factors and Naz Reid contributes with 15.4 factors in about 25 minutes coming off the bench.
Gobert (10.8 factors) and Jaden McDaniels (10.1) spherical out the highest 5.
Phoenix is with out main scorer Kevin Durant, who’s averaging 27.6 factors however is sidelined with a calf harm. His compatriot Bradley Beal, third on the crew with 17.8 factors, can also be coping with a calf harm.
That leaves many of the scoring accountability to Devin Booker, who ranks second with 22.5 factors on 42.3 % capturing from the ground. Booker struggled in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis on Friday, when he was held scoreless within the first half and completed with 12 factors on 2-of-10 capturing.
“They put two individuals on him virtually each time he had him,” Budenholzer stated. “There was quite a lot of consideration on him.”
That is the Suns’ first go to to Minnesota since final season’s first spherical of the playoffs between the groups. The Timberwolves swept the Suns 4-0 within the best-of-seven Western Convention quarterfinals.
Minnesota received at residence in opposition to Phoenix by margins of 120-95 and 105-93 to open the sequence. The groups then traveled to Phoenix, the place the Timberwolves recorded wins of 126-109 and 122-116 to safe a visit to the convention semifinals.
–Discipline degree media
