After avoiding the Play-In Tournament, Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns must now find a way to topple Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to the next round. But if Draymond Green is to be believed, the two-time NBA champion will have to do something different if the Suns want to win.
In Game 1 between the two Western Conference teams, the Timberwolves came out the victor with a score of 120-95 . Anthony Edwards finished the game 33 points, nine rebounds, and six assists to lead his team to the dub. Rudy Gobert posted 14 points and 16 boards, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes on the court.
For their part, the Suns had a monster game from Durant when the former MVP dropped 31 points on 64 percent shooting from the field. Bradley Beal contributed 15 points, six assists, and three steals. Meanwhile, Devin Booker was targeted by the Timberwolves’ defense, causing him to miss shots. In the end, the All-Star guard only had 18 points on 31 percent shooting from the field.
The loss highlighted how shallow Phoenix’s lineup was against the Timberwolves’ roster filled with tall players, such as Gobert and Towns. With the Suns having trouble matching the physical intensity of their opponents, Durant and company will have to find a way to adjust in the coming games.
What Phoenix Suns Star Kevin Durant Must Do To Win Against Minnesota Timberwolves, According to Draymond Green
One potential solution that can changes everything for the Suns came out of Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green and it’s shaping up to be a sensible option to take. In a video shared by ClutchPoints on X:
As it stands, Durant and Booker both lead the team when it comes to scoring. The two All-Stars averaged 27.1 points over the regular season for Phoenix. Meanwhile, Beal contributed 18.2 points over 53 games this season.
Taking a look at the bigger picture, Durant might have to focus on Edwards if the Suns want to effectively contain him on the court. Doing so would mean a bigger role for Beal, Booker, Allen, and other players in Phoenix’s lineup. Whether this happens or not will be known when the two teams face each other in Game 2.
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