Deandre Ayton has career-high 35 points, Suns rally past T-Wolves

The NBA-leading Phoenix Suns, nonetheless taking part in short-handed, handed one other stiff take a look at.

Even earlier than Chris Paul comes again, they seem greater than prepared for one more deep postseason run.

Deandre Ayton scored a career-high 35 factors and had 14 rebounds, Devin Booker had 22 of his 28 factors within the second half and the Suns surged previous the trash-talking Minnesota Timberwolves 125-116 on Wednesday evening.

Landry Shamet scored 10 of his 19 factors within the fourth quarter to assist gas the rally from a 15-point deficit.

Phoenix wants one win — or a Memphis loss — to wrap up home-court benefit for your entire playoffs. The Suns have a nine-game lead with 9 video games left. They’ve gained six straight, 18 of twenty-two and are 59-14 total.

“That’s a playoff atmosphere,” mentioned Ayton, who clutched the sport ball for his profession recreation at a podium afterward for his interview session.

Phoenix accomplished its first sweep of three or extra video games towards Minnesota in 11 seasons.

Anthony Edwards scored 19 factors and Karl-Anthony Cities had 15 factors and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves. They dropped 1 1/2 video games behind Denver for the No. 6 seed that avoids the play-in event. Minnesota has its first two-game shedding streak since Feb. Sep 11.

Cities had solely three factors within the second half. He appeared to spark the exchanges of trash speaking and tough stuff that led to 3 technical fouls and one flagrant foul known as on every crew.

The Suns certain weren’t fazed by it.

“I don’t assume we had been on a lot of that speaking till they began it, to be fully sincere,” mentioned Booker, who’s an in depth buddy of Cities and Timberwolves level guard D’Angelo Russell. “It’s a protracted recreation. We’ve seen that scenario loads of instances earlier than — a crew comes out, will get hots and will get snug. We simply caught with what we do.”

Cities was known as for a Flagrant 1 foul with 8:35 to go on Shamet, who gave the Suns their first lead at 95-94 with a pair of free throws. They stayed forward the remainder of the way in which.

“I believe that modified the sport, sadly,” Cities mentioned.

The Suns, who’ve confidently maintained their snug margin for the NBA’s finest file with out the playmaking and management of the 12-time All-Star Paul for the final month, have additionally been taking part in with out sixth-man Cam Johnson. They’re 11-4 since Paul broke his proper thumb.

The Suns by no means flinched towards a promising crew attempting to make its manner up with younger power, a deep offense and a dose of bravado. The Timberwolves had been outscored 42-28 within the fourth quarter by the Suns, who’re 29-6 on the highway — higher than each different NBA crew’s file at residence.

“We all know the place we wish to go. You’ve received to win video games like this on the highway. So this isn’t simply follow for us. We worth these experiences, and also you’ve received to have a degree of psychological fortitude and stamina,” coach Monty Williams mentioned.

ELITE COMPANY

Booker reached the 11,000-point mark for his profession. He’s the fourth-youngest participant in NBA historical past to get there, behind LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant.

BACK AND FORTH

Cities drove to the basket late within the second quarter and delivered a one-handed dunk on Jae Crowder full with a stare-down, igniting the group and worsening the Suns. Just some seconds later, a double technical foul was known as on Cities and Crowder. Then Timberwolves coach Chris Finch received one, too, for his protest.

Crowder later clipped Timberwolves pest Patrick Beverley within the head to attract a Flagrant 1 foul after the video evaluation, placing Beverley on the line after time within the first half expired.

Ayton and Booker each received technicals within the second half.

“Each groups was crying so much. The refs received it for certain,” Ayton mentioned, laughing. “They didn’t hear a phrase after that. I shut up after that.”

DOWN THE STRETCH

The Timberwolves could have the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, however they’ve two extra losses. Their recreation at Denver on April 1 might effectively be the determinant.

The Nuggets have 9 video games left, and 5 of them are towards groups that had been 10 or extra video games underneath the .500 mark coming into Wednesday. The Timberwolves have eight video games remaining, 5 towards opponents eight video games or extra above .500.

TIP-INS

Suns: Mikal Bridges had 16 factors. … Cam Payne, Paul’s backup, returned to the lineup after lacking the earlier recreation with an sickness. … Ayton has 119 factors in six profession video games towards Minnesota.

Timberwolves: Cities additionally handed the 11,000-point mark within the 475th recreation of his profession. Corridor of Fame member Kevin Garnett is the one different participant in franchise historical past to achieve that milestone, having performed so in 575 video games. … The bench had a 55-28 scoring edge on the Suns. The Timberwolves fell to 21-10 this season when their reserves rating 40-plus factors.

UP NEXT

Suns: At Denver on Thursday evening.

Timberwolves: Host Dallas on Friday evening.