National Basketball Association

Timber! Wolves Rise as Suns Set in Fourth

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:31 p.m. ET

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Nov 25, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (right) goes up for a dunk over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len in the first quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Thoughts from the Valley of the Suns

VS.

Adam Maynes

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: Sports is fantasy, family is reality.

I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving and that your Holiday happiness is spread throughout the weekend, even if your favorite sports teams are trying everything in your power to bring you down.

When I wrote the Official Valley of the Suns pregame preview, I had high hopes for the evening. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my entire family; my beloved Arizona State Sun Devils were about to play one of the worst teams in all of college football; and the Suns were about to play their first home game in almost two weeks against one of the lesser teams in the NBA, and I knew (and you knew too because you read the Official Valley of the Suns pregame preview, right?) that if the Suns hung tough with one of the best first half teams in the league, that the Suns would be able to pull away in the second half as Minnesota is such a terrible second half team.

But, no. Not only did ASU disappoint – in an awful way – but the Suns were unable to pull away themselves.

I said in a post a few days ago that I was tired of the Suns losing. That I was tired of seeing the Suns lose to teams that were, at least on paper, inferior to the talent that the Suns have on their own roster.

And yet, here we are, with another loss in the books to a team that literally all season has been absolutely terrible in the third quarter, whereas the Suns have earned their wins and kept games close with their second half scoring and intensity.

Minnesota, who on average allows 26 points in the fourth quarter, held the Suns to a season low – regardless of quarter – 10 points. Coincidentally enough, the Suns had been averaging 26.2 points in the 4th.

And Minnesota, who averages 25.1 points in the 4th quarter (not bad) scored 31, which is just one bucket above the pace that the Suns allow, 28.

Once again Devin Booker was held to only 11 points on 4-10 shooting, the fifth time in his last eight games that he was held to 13 points or less.

Eric Bledoese did his best to pick up the slack, scoring 23 points and dishing out a season high 10 assists in the loss, although he also held the team’s low in +/- with a -18.

It was great seeing Tyson Chandler back on the court. In only 11 minutes Chandler was able to corral 7 rebounds. This is a phony statistic, but at that rate Chandler was on pace for 23 rebounds in 36 minutes.

While Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Zach Levine were all held to below their season averages in scoring, it was the Suns’ 25 turnovers and 6-26 from three that was a literal assist in Minnesota’s victory.

Boy, Losing is no fun.

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Phoenix Suns Trivia Question

In 57 games against the Phoenix Suns, now retired Kevin Garnett averaged 11.1 rebounds per game, the highest rebounding average against any one team in his career.

Name the other two teams that KG averaged at least 11.0 rebounds per game against.

Next: Phoenix Suns Trivia Answer

Follow Valley of the Suns on Twitter at @ValleyOfTheSuns and on Facebook at facebook.com/PhoenixSunsBlog

Want your voice heard? Join the Valley of the Suns team!

Phoenix Suns Trivia Answer

Sacramento Kings – 11.0 rebounds (684 rebounds in 62 games)

Dallas Mavericks – 11.0 rebounds (570 rebounds in 52 games)

Follow Valley of the Suns on Twitter at @ValleyOfTheSuns and on Facebook at facebook.com/PhoenixSunsBlog

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