Game Preview #47 – Timberwolves at Suns

The Timberwolves look to continue their winning ways when they roll into Phoenix to take on Kevin Durant and the Suns. With just half a game separating the two teams, this matchup in the desert could have huge playoff implications.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
Date: January 29th, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM CST
Location: Footprint Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Can Minnesota Keep the Streak Alive?

Alright, Wolves fans, buckle up. Minnesota rolls into Phoenix riding high on a three-game win streak, with a chance to match their longest streak of the season at four games. That’s the good news. The bad news? The Suns aren’t the pushover they were earlier in the season. After being bitten by the injury bug, Phoenix is healthy again and rolling. And wouldn’t you know it, right on schedule, the Wolves head into the desert for a trajectory-defining battle.

This matchup doesn’t just have Western Conference standings implications—this is turning into one of the league’s most intriguing new rivalries. A little history lesson for context: Last season, Phoenix owned the Wolves in the regular season, sweeping all three matchups. Then the playoffs rolled around, and Minnesota flipped the script, sweeping the Suns right out of the first round. Kevin Durant vs. Anthony Edwards was must-watch TV during that series, and now these two Olympians-turned-buddies are back at it. Let’s dive into what it’s going to take for the Wolves to leave Phoenix with a W.

Key #1: Ant vs. KD – The Star Duel

This game starts and ends with Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant. These are two players who can swing a game single-handedly, and both will be locked in. For Ant, this is about bouncing back. His game against Atlanta was less than spectacular—he struggled to find his shot and had to rely on driving to the basket and drawing fouls. That’s great, but against Phoenix, he’ll need his jumper to complement his drives.

Meanwhile, KD is still KD. He’s been in his usual form, shooting the ball with the ease of someone playing NBA 2K on rookie mode. The key for Minnesota will be to make Durant work on both ends. Expect Jaden McDaniels to draw the primary assignment defensively, but Ant will need to step up on offense to make KD expend some energy. The more tired Durant is, the better Minnesota’s chances.

Key #2: Size Matters

The Wolves dominated the Suns in last year’s playoffs because of one thing: size. Phoenix had no answer for Minnesota’s trio of big men—Gobert, Towns, and Reid—controlling the paint. While Karl-Anthony Towns is now suiting up for the Knicks, Julius Randle is capable of filling the void against the smaller Suns. The Gobert-Randle-Reid combo has the potential to bully Phoenix on the boards again with Phoenix relying on an undersized frontcourt.

Rudy Gobert has been playing inspired basketball lately. His rebounding, in particular, has been a revelation, giving the Wolves extra possessions on offense and snuffing out second-chance opportunities for their opponents. The Wolves need him to keep that energy up, especially against a team with as much firepower as Phoenix.

Key #3: Point Guard Depth – Who Steps Up?

This one’s tricky. The Wolves are already without Donte DiVincenzo (toe injury), and Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s status is up in the air after he left the Atlanta game with a leg contusion. That leaves Mike Conley and rookie spark plug Rob Dillingham to handle the point guard duties.

Conley’s been the steady veteran presence the Wolves have needed, and Dillingham has impressed when given the chance, but this matchup will demand a lot from them. The Wolves can’t afford to get sloppy with the ball. Phoenix will punish turnovers with lightning-fast transition buckets, especially with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal lurking. Whoever brings the ball up the floor needs to keep it moving and avoid those soul-crushing lazy passes.

If Alexander-Walker is out, don’t be surprised if we see Anthony Edwards or even Julius Randle taking on more ball-handling duties. It’s not ideal, but it might be necessary.

Key #4: Match Phoenix’s Firepower

Let’s be honest—stopping the Suns completely isn’t realistic. Between KD, Booker, and Beal, Phoenix has enough offensive firepower to light up an NBA Jam machine. The key for Minnesota is matching that output.

Naz Reid has been red-hot lately, and his ability to stretch the floor could be huge in this game. If he continues to hit from three, it’ll force Phoenix’s bigs to step out, opening up the lane for Ant and Randle to attack. Speaking of Randle, his recent shooting struggles seem to be behind him. Let’s see if he can pick up where he left off after nailing an ice cold buzzer-beating three against Phoenix earlier this season.

Final Thoughts

This is a winnable game for the Wolves, but it won’t be easy. The Suns are healthier, deeper, and hungrier than they’ve been in quite a while. For Minnesota, this is an opportunity to not only extend their win streak to four games but to make a statement that they’re ready to move past their “up-and-down” label.

The schedule ahead is favorable, with Utah and Washington next, but the Wolves can’t look past Phoenix. A win here would set the tone for a potential six-game winning streak, which could do wonders for their placement in the standings.

It all comes down to execution. Can the Wolves dominate the glass? Can Ant shine brighter than KD? Can Conley and Dillingham hold the fort at point guard? We’ll find out soon enough.

One thing’s for sure—if the Wolves want to be taken seriously as contenders out West, these are the games they need to win. Let’s see if they’re up to the challenge.