Suns at Timberwolves 6:00 MY45

[FArting]

The Phoenix Suns didn't have too much trouble becoming the first Western Conference team to win 30 games. Winning No. 31 shouldn't be too difficult, either.
The Suns look for their fifth straight victory overall when they remain on the road to face the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second time in six days Wednesday night.Phoenix (30-12), which has the second-best record in the NBA behind Boston (33-6), opened a four-game road trip with a 114-105 win at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.Steve Nash had a season-high 37 points with 10 assists, while center Amare Stoudemire added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns."Those (Nash and Stoudemire) are some of the top players in each of those positions," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "Steve Nash came up huge."The win was the second straight on the road for the Suns, who improved to 15-8 away from home and matched New Orleans for the most road wins in the Western Conference.Phoenix has won nine of its last 12 meetings with the Timberwolves (6-34), but the Suns fell 100-93 on Dec. 8 in their last visit to Minnesota. Phoenix bounced back at home to defeat the Timberwolves 115-95 on Jan. 8 in the most recent meeting.Nash, who has posted a double-double in four of his last five games and has scored 35 or more points twice in the Suns' last six contests, is averaging 15.5 points and 14.0 assists in the two games versus Minnesota this season.Stoudemire had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the Jan. 8 win over the Timberwolves.Phoenix's already potent lineup got stronger Tuesday with the return of Grant Hill. The veteran scored eight points in 27 minutes in his return after missing seven games due to undergoing an appendectomy."My legs weren't great, but my rhythm will come back by the end of the (four game) road trip," said Hill, who is averaging 22.3 points in 17 career games versus Minnesota.Minnesota (6-34) returns home after snapping a 16-game road losing steak with a 109-108 victory at Golden State on Monday. The win also snapped a five-game skid overall. Minnesota hasn't won two in a row since Feb. 11-14."We were just desperate to get a win, on the road or at home," said Marko Jaric, who had 16 points and 10 assists. "We know we're a better team than our record shows. We want to show down the stretch that we are a better team than the numbers show right now."Ryan Gomes had a career-high 35 points and 11 rebounds, while Al Jefferson added 21 points and 12 boards for the Timberwolves, who shot better than 50 percent from the field for the second straight game.Jefferson is averaging 27.3 points and 17.0 rebounds in his last three games versus the Suns.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280123016

Suns 113
Timberwolves 93

Nash

 

[Ronin]

Suns 108
Amare
Timberwolves 80
Jefferson

 

[nashman]

Let's hope Amare feels like playing SOME defense tonight as Jefferson should not be going off on him as he has in the past.

 

[nowagimp]

Let's hope Amare feels like playing SOME defense tonight as Jefferson should not be going off on him as he has in the past.

Amare cannot guard jefferson in the post, jefferson will get his 20/10. The suns need to stop the others from getting theirs. I think skinner will play more tonight and hopefully straw as well as its the second of a back to back. Straw is showing sparks of a terrific defender, he just needs to learn to let the game come to him and stay focused. The suns need to rebound the ball and make the wolves work hard for their shots.

 

[zett]

Amare cannot guard jefferson in the post, jefferson will get his 20/10. The suns need to stop the others from getting theirs. I think skinner will play more tonight and hopefully straw as well as its the second of a back to back. Straw is showing sparks of a terrific defender, he just needs to learn to let the game come to him and stay focused. The suns need to rebound the ball and make the wolves work hard for their shots.

Agreed we need to play focused, if not we will get stung in the behind again.
energy will definitly be key tonight!

 

[mjb21aztd]

Suns 118

Timberwolves 107

Leading Scorer Amare

 

[PHX 32]

Suns 123
Wolves 101

LB

 

[mojorizen7]

I like the SUNS to bury the WOLVES tonight. I really liked R.Bell's intensity last night & G.Hill should be a little more effective as he works himself back into shape.
I'll be watching for the SUNS to get a little more aggressive on the boards tonight.
I'll also be curious as to how Nash approaches this game offensively after last nights explosion. I imagine he may look to dish & create opportunities for Bell,Amare, & Barbs per usual.
Keep it comin' Boris!
SUNS-111
WOLVES-102

 

[mojorizen7]

Lovin the 2-man game early.

 

[mojorizen7]

Amare dominating. Sweet.

 

[mribnik]

Methinks Nash wants Amare to get the ball often tonight. That first dunk he had to open the game was incredible.

 

[mojorizen7]

No doubt.

 

[Sovereignz]

Feed the beast, baby!

As bad as Amare is defensively sometimes, I think we'd be even worse off with Jefferson. Dude is almost lethargic.

 

[Black Jesus]

Amare with 10 early

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Hey it's the Amare/Nash show everyone is looking for

 

[Griffin]

Half the TWolves points are second chance points.

 

[cly2tw]

It's mostly Amare has to help out and Jefferson gets off. rebounds wihtout any other Suns laying a body on him or Gomes.

Diaw has been weak and passive on both sides.

 

[Hat]

Doris is back to his old self...

 

[mojorizen7]

Does Boris have a twin brother who can play?
The continuity drop off on offense is still too much when Nash/Amare sits.

 

[Ciani]

It's mostly Amare has to help out and Jefferson gets off. rebounds wihtout any other Suns laying a body on him or Gomes.

Diaw has been weak and passive on both sides.

No, its mostly Amare just cant box out Jefferson.

Diaw looks like he doesnt know what to do whit Hill back, its frustrating to watch.

And Barbs is plain terrible at the point.

 

[Hat]

Up by 10 in the 1st quarter, now down by 10 in the 2nd. What the ****!!??

 

[Proteus]

Ugh...32 pts on 56.5% shooting and 5 offensive rebounds for the Timberwolves after the 1st quarter.

 

[mojorizen7]

Does DA know he's allowed to take TO's?

 

[Hat]

air ball!

 

[Hat]

Does DA know he's allowed to take TO's?

LOL seriously...