It isn’t looking good for the Phoenix Suns at the moment. Down 3-0 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Suns are fresh off a Game 3 loss at home on Friday.
The game’s third quarter was the turning point of the night. During the first two quarters, it was a tightly contested clash, with the Timberwolves holding a six-point lead at the half. Once the final 24 minutes ensued, the onslaught began.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit all four of his three-pointers to spearhead a run that would result in the Suns trailing by 22 to enter the fourth. Minnesota ourscored Phoenix 36-20 in the third quarter alone, much to the misery of the entire Footprint Center.
It was smooth sailing for the Timberwolves from then on, as Phoenix had no answer for the rest of the night. If the Suns are hoping to steal games in the next coming days, then they’ll have address the flaws that held them back on Friday.
The Suns have to start strong
In the beginning of the game, Phoenix was getting good looks. However, the shots weren’t falling. The team already had the advantage in free throws, attempting 15 in the first quarter alone (Minnesota had just 4). Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to make up for their 36.8% field goal percentage in the said quarter. As the first 12 minutes concluded, the Suns still trailed by two.
Going against a taller, much more physical team like the Timberwolves, the Suns will need to capitalize at every opportunity given. While they did finish the game shooting 46.1%, they definitely need to be efficient from the get-go.
Rebounding
And speaking of size, there really isn’t much of a solution to this. With Rudy Gobert (7’3), Karl-Anthony Towns (7’0) and Jaden McDaniels (6’9) as the Timberwolves’ starting frontcourt, it’s a no brainer that grabbing rebounds will be difficult for opponents. Such was the case on Friday, when the Suns were outrebounded, 50-28. Phoenix gave up 15 offensive boards around their basket, and it’s no surprise why.
Jusuf Nurkic is the only true big man in the team’s starting unit. With Kevin Durant and Royce O’Neale as the forwards, the rebounding was bound to be a one-sided affair from the start.
The Timberwolves also imposed their inside presence by amassing a total of 56 points in the paint, to go with 19 second-chance points.
Royce O’Neal and Jusuf Nurkic need to help on offense
The Suns’ Big 3 all finished in double figures. Bradley Beal scored 28 points, Kevin Durant had 25, while Devin Booker added 23. In addition, Eric Gordon and Drew Eubanks made contributions off the bench. However, the team’s two other starters, Royce O’Neale and Jusuf Nurkic, combined for just 1-of-9 shooting from the floor.
O’Neale, in particular, was tasked to fill in for injured sharpshooter Grayson Allen. It didn’t pan out as expected for Frank Vogel, as the forward finished the game scoreless in over 24 minutes of action.
As for Nurkic, it’s understandable that getting baskets over Gobert and Towns isn’t easy. Nevertheless, the big man did score nine and 10 points during Games 1 and 2, respectively. In a playoff series such as this, every basket counts, so Nurkic definitely needs to be as efficient as possible in the coming days.
With their season in the balance, it remains to be seen if Phoenix will somehow respond to the adversity. It’s been a quiet year, and the Suns’ struggles have stuck with them in the postseason. The best they can do now is to focus on staying afloat — one game at a time.
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