Game ID: 22400672
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 29 30 18 36 113MIN 22 33 26 40 121
MIN @ PHX ScoutingMIN @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 1/16, returns tonight: 25 min (77% of 32)
OUT Nurkić missed 6 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 38 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 19 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 7 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 39 since 10/28, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 14)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (48% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Nurkić missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
PHX availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 11 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 12)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 30 min since (95% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 0 min since (2% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (12% of 14)
PHX availability going into 2/01 · back-to-backOUT Nurkić missed 12 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 13 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 14 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
MIN availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 2 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 1/17 after 12, 16 min since (153% of 10)
MIN availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 3 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Clark missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 1/17 after 12, 16 min since (158% of 10)
MIN availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT DiVincenzo missed 4 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Clark missed 3 since 1/18, returns tonight: 4 min (37% of 12)
BACK Dillingham back 1/17 after 12, 14 min since (140% of 10)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 5 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Clark back 1/25 after 3, 4 min since (37% of 12)
BACK Dillingham back 1/17 after 12, 15 min since (151% of 10)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 37 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 6 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Clark back 1/25 after 3, 4 min since (37% of 12)
MIN availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT DiVincenzo missed 7 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Clark back 1/25 after 3, 7 min since (60% of 12)
MIN availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 8 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Clark back 1/25 after 3, 11 min since (87% of 12)
NEW Dillingham 10 to 15 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 9 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Clark back 1/25 after 3, 13 min since (106% of 12)
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 17 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 2 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 10 since 1/17, out tonight
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Conley 25 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Dillingham 10 to 16 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nurkić (10 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without DiVincenzo (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Phoenix 112, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/20 @ CLE 92-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 92-118. PHX shot 47% (36 of 77) to CLE's 43%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 23. PHX turned it over 17 times to CLE's 8, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 34-50 against them. Durant led with 23 (9 of 16); Booker added 15, Jones 13. Q1 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 91-65 against them. Richards's -26 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 @ BKN 108-84 — PHX notes
PHX won 108-84. PHX shot 48% (42 of 88) to BKN's 37%, 14 of 41 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to BKN's 16. Booker led with 32 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three); Durant added 24. The hinge was Q1, 28-16: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 28. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/25 vs WAS 119-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-109. PHX shot 44% (40 of 90) to WAS's 47%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 9 — 26 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 53-37 for them. Durant led with 29 (11 of 19, 5 of 8 from three); Beal added 20, Richards 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/27 vs LAC 111-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 111-109. PHX shot 47% (40 of 85) to LAC's 49%, 22 of 47 from three, and got to the line 11 times to LAC's 20. Booker led with 26 (9 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Durant added 24, Allen 18. The hinge was Q2, 26-17: a lead of 4 became 13. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/29 vs MIN 113-121 — PHX notes
PHX lost 113-121. PHX took 10 more shots (85 to 75), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to MIN's 56%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIN's 27. Durant led with 33 (13 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Booker added 28, Beal 17. Q1 was theirs, 29-22, but the other 3 periods went 99-84 against them. They led by as many as 12. Plumlee's -15 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wiggins at 22 and Curry at 17 a game. Without Green (6 straight), Kuminga (13 straight), Waters III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. Without Nurkić (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 114, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/01 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Avdija at 20 and Simons at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Thybulle (48 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 26 a game. Without Nurkić (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 29 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18 and the defense, Portland allowing 99 a night to Phoenix's 106. Call it Portland 112, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/03 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 31 free throws a game; Ayton at 22 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thybulle (49 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Nurkić (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the defense, Portland allowing 105 a night to Phoenix's 114. Call it Portland 114, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/05 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Jal. Williams at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Jal. Williams (2 straight), Holmgren (38 straight), Caruso (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Nurkić (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-10 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 119, Phoenix 109, OKC by 10.
1/20 @ MEM 106-108 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-108. MIN shot 39% (36 of 93) to MEM's 43%, 14 of 43 from three, and got to the line 27 times to MEM's 34. Edwards led with 32 (8 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 13 of 18 at the line); Reid added 29, Dillingham 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 87-78 against them. They led by as many as 16. McDaniels's -18 in 42 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 @ DAL 115-114 — MIN notes
MIN won 115-114. MIN shot 46% (37 of 81) to DAL's 50%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DAL's 19 — 30 points from the stripe to their 16. McDaniels led with 27 (10 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); A. Edwards added 21, Conley 18. The hinge was Q2, 38-31: MIN came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/25 vs DEN 133-104 — MIN notes
MIN won 133-104. MIN shot 56% (53 of 95) to DEN's 49%, 14 of 30 from three. Edwards led with 34 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three); Randle added 21, Gobert 14. The hinge was Q4, 24-13: a lead of 18 became 29. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/27 vs ATL 100-92 — MIN notes
MIN won 100-92. MIN shot 40% (34 of 86) to ATL's 40%, 12 of 40 from three, and went to the line 29 times to ATL's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. MIN turned it over 16 times to ATL's 21. Edwards led with 23 (6 of 20, 2 of 11 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Randle added 20, Gobert 18. The hinge was Q2, 32-23: a lead of 8 became 17. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/29 @ PHX 121-113 — MIN notes
MIN won 121-113. MIN shot 56% (42 of 75) to PHX's 51%, 13 of 29 from three, and went to the line 27 times to PHX's 20 — 24 points from the stripe to their 15. Edwards led with 33 (11 of 20, 3 of 8 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Randle added 28, Alexander-Walker 23. The hinge was Q3, 26-18: MIN came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 16. MIN trailed 55-59 at the half and won the second half 66-54. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
1/30 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and Kessler at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Collins (3 straight), Kessler (2 straight), Hendricks (42 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without DiVincenzo (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Utah's 122 and the arc, Minnesota at 37 percent from three to Utah's 30. Call it Minnesota 114, Utah 111, Utah keeping it close.
2/01 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without DiVincenzo (8 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 120, shooting 39 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 16 and Kuzma at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Sarr (2 straight), Brogdon (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to Washington's 28 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and Washington minus-6. Call it Minnesota 120, Washington 104, Minnesota by 16.
2/03 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without DiVincenzo (9 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Monk at 20 and Fox at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 105 a night to Sacramento's 126 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and Sacramento minus-7. Call it Minnesota 119, Sacramento 110.
2/05 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 18 a game. Without Randle (2 straight), DiVincenzo (10 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; White at 21 and Giddey at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 108 a night to Chicago's 120 and the line, where Minnesota takes 23 free throws a game to Chicago's 16. Call it Minnesota 119, Chicago 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
JC J. Clark
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. Minott
JR J. Randle
LG L. Garza
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
RD R. Dillingham
RG R. Gobert
PHXBB B. Beal
DB D. Booker
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
MIN/PHX the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Anthony Edwards scores 33 points as Timberwolves beat Suns 121-113 for 4th straight win
PHOENIX -- — Anthony Edwards scored 33 points, Julius Randle added 28 and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 121-113 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory.
The Timberwolves trailed for much of the night, but rallied near the end of the third quarter for an 81-77 advantage. Nickeil Alexander-Walker made three 3-pointers early in the fourth to help Minnesota push to a 10-point lead.
Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points, making 5 of 10 shots behind the arc. The Timberwolves — who swept the Suns out of the playoffs last season in the first round — shot 56% from the field.
Phoenix had its three-game winning streak snapped. Kevin Durant led the team with 33 points while Devin Booker added 28 and Bradley Beal had 17. The Suns' offense stalled in the third quarter with just 18 points on 7 of 22 shooting.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch was ejected in the third quarter after receiving a second technical foul. Both were for arguing with officials. Forward Jaden McDaniels was also ejected in the final minute after a brief altercation with Booker.
The Suns led 59-55 advantage at half, with Booker scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
Takeaways Timberwolves: It was a nice come-from-behind win after Minnesota looked sluggish for most of the first half. The Timberwolves were playing without forward Naz Reid (illness) and guard Donte DiVincenzo (big toe sprain).
Suns: Phoenix has played better over the past few weeks, but Wednesday's game was a reversion to bad habits. The Suns had 16 turnovers.
Key moment Randle stole a bad pass from Booker and passed to Edwards for a one-handed jam that made it 100-86 with 6:56 left.
Key stat Alexander-Walker scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Up next Timberwolves are at Utah on Thursday night. The Suns are Golden State on Friday night.