Phoenix Suns Face Wiggins, Timberwolves
Eric Bledsoe has helped carry the Phoenix Suns out of a hole over the past three weeks as the team looks to win their 10th game in their past 12 contests on Wednesday night in Minnesota when they take on the Timberwolves.
Phoenix (21-16) has scored at least 100 points in their past nine games and know the importance of this game as they will finish their four game road trip in San Antonio and Memphis after defeating the Bucks last night.
Minnesota (5-28) has not had anywhere the same amount of success as Phoenix as the Timberwolves have dropped their past 12 games despite terrific play by the potential Rookie of the Year winner Andrew Wiggins.
Jan 5, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) blocks Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The T’Wolves are allowing an NBA-worst 108.5 points per game and are five games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the worst record in the Western Conference. Surprisingly they are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers and are two games above the New York Knicks for the worst record in the NBA.
Markieff Morris brought Phoenix back against Milwaukee last night and dominated the Bucks defense time-and-time-again. Morris finished the game with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Bledsoe continued his hot stretch with another double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Isaiah Thomas kept the Suns in the ballgame in the second quarter and finished with 19 points, while Goran Dragic added an additional 16 points.
Phoenix played stingy defense in the fourth quarter, forcing the Bucks to shoot 33.3% from the field in the final frame. Their defensive stand in the fourth quarter helped them outscore the Bucks by seven points to comeback and win the game 102-96.
Injuries have depleted the Minnesota lineup throughout the season. Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, and Nikola Pekovic are all out with injury and the Suns will turn their focus onto Wiggins, Shabazz Muhammad, and Thaddeus Young.
After averaging 12 points per game with a 38.5% shooting percentage in the first 26 games of the year, Wiggins has turned it on in the past two weeks. In his last seven games the 2014 first overall pick is averaging 21 points per game on 50% shooting, including 45.5% from behind the arc.
Minnesota has had a tough go of even keeping their losing efforts close. In their current 12-game losing streak only six of the losses were by single digits. As if the 12-game losing streak weren’t bad enough as it is, they have only won one game in their past 19 games (90-82 victory against the Portland Trailblazers).
If the Suns can come into the Target Center on Wednesday night and play their brand of basketball then they should have nothing to worry about against the Timberwolves.
Phoenix and Minnesota will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. MST and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
PREDICTION:
Suns 113, Timberwolves 97