For a while, it seemed like the Phoenix Suns would have to go through the play-in gauntlet just to face a tough opponent in the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
While the players inside the Suns camp were confident of their playoff chances, it would have still been preferred if they didn’t have to go through the play-in tournament at all. Getting rest is one of the most important things to have during playoff basketball, after all
Thankfully, they will have days to rest while setting up a date with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round after causing the Wolves to implode during their regular-season finale.
Bradley Beal’s 36 powers the Phoenix Suns to pierce past Minnesota Timberwolves
Bradley Beal was the best man on the floor for the Suns as his 36 points pushed the team past the Timberwolves and set an intriguing first-round duel for neutral NBA fans.
The Wolves couldn’t do anything to stop him as he shot a terrifying 66.7% clip from the field. He added to his incredible shooting performance with six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Kevin Durant held his own with his 30 points, four boards, one dish, two steals, and a block to his name. Devin Booker had an off-night as he only shot for 20 points on 37.5% shooting, but he made up for it with four rebounds and seven assists.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards was a non-factor against the Suns. He only made seven shot attempts for a total of 13 points. While he contributed with six rebounds and four assists, he failed to commit to his role as the team’s primary shot-creator.
Karl-Anthony Towns was just as bad as the Ant-Man with only ten points, six boards, and two dimes to his name. Rudy Gobert had a good 7-for-9 shooting to finish with 21 points, but his seven rebounds left a lot to be desired against a team that can easily shoot the lights out.
How will the Phoenix Suns-Minnesota Timberwolves series pan out?
The first-round duel between the Suns and Timberwolves will be tough to call due to how distinct the strengths of these two teams are.
The Suns have a three-headed monster that can take over the scoring load if one or two players are struggling against the opposition, with this game being the clearest example of this. It also helped that Grayson Allen has blossomed over the season to become a reliable scorer to fill out the starting lineup.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have an overwhelming scorer in Ant Edwards who can score at will. KAT has become a reliable two-way player, and Rudy Gobert patrols the interior to stifle any drives. They also have solid role players in Mike Conley and Naz Reid.
It’s going to be tough to call, but the head-to-head between the two teams point to the Phoenix Suns likely winning the seven-game series. The Suns won all three games by at least ten points, making it clear that the Minnesota Timberwolves have no clear answer to Frank Vogel’s approach.
It might take a major miracle for the Timberwolves to make it past the first round, but many things can change between now and Game 7. It will be tough, but the Wolves should have the talent and drive to make it an interesting series.
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