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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns: A fight for the playoffs
The Minnesota Timberwolves are visiting the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on Friday.
The Timberwolves are holding on at the top of the West
The Minnesota Timberwolves are on top of the Western Conference with a 53-23 record. They have won six of the last seven games and are coming off a 133-85 win over the Toronto Raptors. Minnesota is the best defensive team in the league, allowing 106 points per game on 44.6% shooting from the field. Anthony Edwards has had an amazing season, averaging 26.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
The Suns are in the top six in the West
The Phoenix Suns are sixth in the Western Conference with a 45-31 record. They have won six of the last eight games and are coming off a 122-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Suns are fourth in the league, shooting 49.5% from the field, and one spot lower, shooting 38.3% from three-point territory. Devin Booker leads the team, averaging 27.6 points per game, followed by Kevin Durant with 27.5.
Betting Trends
Phoenix has won 8 of the last 9 games against Minnesota. The Suns are 6-2 SU in the last 8 games overall, 5-2 SU in the last 7 games against teams from the Northwest Division and 6-1 SU in the last 7 games played in April. The Timberwolves are 6-1 SU in the last 7 games overall and 4-1 SU in the last 5 games against teams from the Western Conference.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Timberwolves are having their best season in the past two decades, and they look like a real contender this season. Anthony Edwards is among the MVP candidates and is literally unstoppable. Still, the Wolves are without Karl-Anthony Towns, going against a team that won the last head-to-head games 133-115. The Suns are barely in the top six teams in the Western Conference and will need to keep their foot on the gas in order to avoid the play-in tournament. Devin Booker scored 52 points earlier this week, and the Suns, with him and Kevin Durant, will be just too much for the Timberwolves.
