Bradley Beal scored 36 points, making all of his six 3-point attempts, as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-106 on Sunday. This win ensured they wouldn’t have to go through the play-in tournament and set them up for a rematch against the Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Suns coach Frank Vogel praised the team’s performance, saying it showed their potential when they play their best.
Devin Booker contributed 23 points, while Grayson Allen added 20 for the Suns, who established a commanding 22-point lead by the end of the first quarter and maintained their advantage throughout the game.
“We’ve been performing well lately. While it may not be our absolute best, we’re certainly hitting our stride at the right moment,” said Beal.
The Suns finished the regular season strongly with a 10-4 record, securing the sixth seed after New Orleans’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. They clinched the spot due to holding the tiebreaker over the Pelicans.
Despite starting the final day in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Western Conference with Denver and Oklahoma City, Minnesota claimed the third seed when both the Nuggets and Thunder won.
The Timberwolves will host Game 1 of the series next weekend, but they’ll need to work hard to overcome their previous losses to the Suns this season. “We can’t just rely on the numbers or stats to think we’ll breeze through the series,” Beal emphasized. “It’s going to be a tough battle every single game.”
Rudy Gobert contributed 21 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Conley added 17 points for the Timberwolves. However, they struggled with turnovers, matching their season high with 24, and allowed the Suns to grab 13 offensive rebounds in a disappointing performance. Despite shooting 50% or better, they couldn’t secure the win.
Beal also played a key role in defending All-Star Anthony Edwards, who struggled to score in the second half and finished with 13 points.
“The Suns applied pressure in the gaps. Whenever he tried to drive through, there was always another defender waiting,” Wolves coach Chris Finch explained. “He needs to find ways to be more aggressive in such situations and make quicker decisions.”
Although the Timberwolves finished with their second-best record in franchise history at 56-26, trailing only the 2003-04 team led by MVP Kevin Garnett, they faced a tough challenge from the Suns. Despite missing sixth-man Eric Gordon due to a migraine, the Suns showcased their strength, forcing the Timberwolves into errors and utilizing their sharp shooting to make an impact.
As Finch voiced his frustrations with the referees in the second quarter due to what the Wolves perceived as an unfair foul count, Beal teased Finch as he passed by the bench.
Finch responded with words, and Edwards quickly stepped in to defend his coach by pushing Beal. Both players received technical fouls, but they were separated by their teams before any altercation occurred.
Even before this incident, the Suns had the Wolves’ full attention. Their lowest-scoring game (87 points) and their highest points allowed (133 points) this season were both against the Suns.
Furthermore, the Wolves struggled at the start of this game, committing 11 turnovers in the first quarter alone, which resulted in 17 points for the Suns.
“They play at a fast pace, and they have several players who can make quick decisions and plays,” Conley remarked. “We’ll need to adapt and figure out how to respond.”
