Although the Golden State Warriors currently sit one spot ahead them in the Western Conference standings, no other NBA team could match the Phoenix Suns right now if you were to pull out a thermometer. The Valley Boys look scorching hot to start this week, riding a league-best eight game winning streak.
Looking to push it to nine games though, they face off against a gritty Minnesota Timberwolves team tonight, spearheaded by Devin Booker’s longtime friends Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell.
As it stands now, the Wolves own a 4-8 record. Having lost eight of their last ten games, they continue to trend oppositely with the Suns. However, they own a home court advantage tonight, and with this game coming as the latter position of a back-to-back for the Suns, things might become competitive down the stretch.
Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Odds, Spread, Over/Under Tonight
According to WynnBet, the Suns enter this bout favored to win at -4.0 points. Their moneyline odds sit at -165, and the over/under is at 223.5 points.
Given Phoenix’s winning streak and Minnesota’s drought, it makes all to much sense for oddsmakers to give them the nod tonight. Only the circumstances outside the game itself make the odds remotely close to even. If this game were played at Footprint Arena, and especially not within a back-to-back sequence, the spread would likely double in Phoenix’s favor.
Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Lineups
Monty Williams recently announced that Deandre Ayton would return tonight for the Suns. He joins the team for the first time in 11 days. With that, their original starting five is back together.
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Mikal Bridges
- PF: Jae Crowder
- C: Deandre Ayton
Having rolled out six different starting fives already this season, Minnesota’s lineup card becomes a bit more difficult to predict. However, they stayed consistent with it over their past two games, with one helping them to beat the Los Angeles Lakers.
- PG: Patrick Beverley
- SG: D’Angelo Russell
- SF: Anthony Edwards
- PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
- C: Karl-Anthony Towns
Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
The Wolves certainly know everything at stake for the Suns right now, and naturally want to bring it to an end. Expect them to come out swinging, especially Towns, as he looks to take advantage of a potentially rusty Ayton.
However, Phoenix’s chemistry looks off the charts right now, especially at the offensive end.
Nobody currently shoots the ball at a higher clip than the Suns, and they put up over 25 team assists in seven of their past eight games. With Minnesota looking like a middle-pack defensive unit thus far, they stand no chance at slowing down this well-oiled offensive machine for the Suns.
With that considered, watch for Minnesota to keep pace with the Suns for some time, and possibly jet out to an early lead, but then relinquish it during the second half as Phoenix’s superior talent and cohesiveness take over.
Final: Phoenix Suns 109, Minnesota Timberwolves 99
Phoenix Suns Next Up:
After this contest, the Suns take a double dosage of the Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, hosting them Wednesday night, and then Friday night.
Last season, the Suns swept Dallas, winning all three games against them. But this year, the Mavs look much better, currently boasting an 8-4 record that leaves them just one game behind Phoenix.
They just might give the Suns some trouble during both matchups. At the very least though, they provide the Suns with their first real test in a while, with Phoenix having yet to play a team above .500 so far this month.