Game Preview #62 – Timberwolves at Suns

Injuries, suspensions, and lackluster play has Minnesota reeling as it heads into Phoenix for a critical Western Conference matchup. Can the Wolves find a way to grind out a win on the road as they look to save their season?

Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
Date: March 2nd, 2025
Time: 8:30 PM CST
Location: Footprint Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves Drop Another Heartbreaker, Head to Phoenix in Desperation Mode

Here we go again.

Another night, another close loss, another game where the Minnesota Timberwolves did just enough to make you think they might actually pull it off, only to shoot themselves in the foot with a disastrous stretch that cost them the game. This time, it was against the Utah Jazz, a team with zero interest in winning basketball games but apparently more than capable of snatching a victory from a depleted Wolves squad running on fumes.

The formula was all too familiar:

• A promising first half where the Wolves looked like they had things under control
• A soul-crushing, offense-free disaster in the third quarter that flipped the game on its head
• A scrappy fourth-quarter rally that ultimately fell just short because of avoidable mistakes

Wash, rinse, repeat.

It’s been the same story all year. The Wolves dig themselves into a hole with a brutal six-minute stretch, claw their way back, and then let the game slip through their fingers in crunch time. At this point, we should all have the script memorized.

And now? The Wolves find themselves in ninth place in the Western Conference, losers of four of their last five since the All-Star break, and staring at the very real possibility that the play-in tournament isn’t just likely—it’s inevitable.

But before we start digging graves, let’s take a deep breath.

Despite this recent string of missed opportunities, the Wolves still only sit two games back of the sixth-seeded Clippers with 21 games left to make up the difference. That’s the good news. The bad news? If they don’t get their act together right now, their season could spiral into an inescapable mess.

Which brings us to Sunday night in Phoenix.

Can the Wolves Steal One in the Desert?

Anthony Edwards will be back. That alone should give Wolves fans some hope. After sitting out against Utah due to a completely ridiculous and corrupt suspension, Ant will have fresh legs and a score to settle. Hopefully, that leads to the version of Edwards we saw drop 40+ on the Cavs and Rockets.

The Suns are far from a juggernaut right now. They’ve been floundering for most of the season, failing to find any real chemistry between Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Their defense is suspect, they’re undersized in the frontcourt, and their bench is about as reliable as a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am with 200,000 miles on it.

But despite all that, this is still a dangerous team—especially if the Wolves come out flat like they did in Utah.

Here’s what Minnesota needs to do to win and stop this losing streak from turning into a full-blown collapse.

Keys to the Game: Wolves vs. Suns

1. Attack the Paint (If We Have the Bigs to Do It)

Here’s the thing: Phoenix has no size. The Wolves have to exploit this mismatch—IF they have the personnel to do it.

That means praying to the basketball gods that Rudy Gobert and/or Julius Randle are finally healthy enough to play. If they are? The Wolves should be pounding the ball inside all night.

If not? Well…then we get another game of Naz Reid trying to play center by himself and probably getting eaten alive on the boards again.

2. Swing the Ball, Avoid Hero Ball

In the second quarter against Utah, the Wolves were moving the ball beautifully. The offense was clicking, guys were making extra passes, and everything just flowed.

Then, as usual, they forgot how to play basketball in the third quarter, and the offense devolved into a bunch of contested jumpers and forced shots.

That CANNOT happen against Phoenix.

The Suns are horrible defensively when you make them rotate. Booker, Beal, and Grayson Allen are not exactly ballstoppers on the perimeter, and if the Wolves move the ball the way they did early against Utah, they’ll get a ton of open looks.

The key is not falling into the trap of forcing up bad shots when things start going sideways.

That means Ant can’t just settle for step-back threes.

That means Jaden McDaniels needs to stay aggressive and not disappear for stretches.

That means Donte DiVincenzo needs to take the open threes when they come but also look to create for others.

If the Wolves let the ball stick? They’re toast.

3. Swarm Booker and Beal—Make Someone Else Beat You

If there’s one thing the Wolves have going for them, it’s perimeter defenders.

Jaden McDaniels.

Jaylen Clark.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Even Anthony Edwards when he locks in.

Use them.

Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are both streaky scorers who can get hot in a hurry, but they also struggle when teams pressure them and make them uncomfortable. If the Wolves play the type of aggressive, in-your-face defense we saw against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last week, they can make life miserable for Booker and Beal.

Force the Suns into bad shots, contested jumpers, and turnovers—and suddenly, their offense looks a whole lot shakier.

4. Anthony Edwards vs. Kevin Durant: Who Shines Brighter?

This is always a fun matchup.

Ant idolized KD growing up and always seems to bring extra fire when he faces him.

The Wolves need that version of Ant on Sunday.

He has to be aggressive, get to the rim, and play within the flow of the offense.

If he tries to go one-on-one with Durant all night, that’s exactly what the Suns want. But if he picks his spots, moves the ball, and takes smart shots?

He can absolutely own this game.

Final Thought: Time to Wake Up

The Wolves are running out of time.

Yes, they have a favorable schedule down the stretch, but you actually have to win games for that to matter.

Right now, they’re floundering, inconsistent, and losing winnable games.

That has to change—immediately.

Phoenix is beatable. The Suns are soft inside, mediocre defensively, and prone to bad stretches of basketball. But if the Wolves come out sluggish and careless, they’ll let another one slip away.

This HAS TO BE a win.

Anything less, and suddenly the season starts feeling like it’s slipping away.