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PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns’ challenging season took a turn for the worse on Sunday evening, suffering a shameful 116-98 defeat at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“We didn’t meet our standards at all,” said All-Star forward Kevin Durant. “We let down our fans and ourselves with our performance. I expect us to improve.”
There is little indication that improvement is on the horizon.
With this latest loss marking their 11th in 14 games, the Suns’ record fell to 28-33 for the season. They now sit four games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the final spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament, and will require a remarkable turnaround over the next 21 games to even have a chance at the playoffs.
This stark reality is far from what the Suns had envisioned back in October. They began the season with lofty championship goals, boasting a well-compensated and skilled lineup featuring Durant, four-time All-Star Devin Booker, and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal.
However, following an encouraging 8-1 start to the season, the Suns have since recorded a disappointing 20-31 record since November 13. While injuries have played a role, the team was fully intact on Sunday night yet still faced a lopsided defeat on their home turf.
“We need to put together a successful streak, but it has to start now,” Coach Mike Budenholzer stated. “There’s certainly a recognition of our position in the standings, and we must take action to turn it around.”
The Suns were ahead 51-49 at halftime, but the Timberwolves surged ahead to claim an 83-72 lead entering the fourth quarter.
From that point, the Suns faltered, appearing to lack intensity in the closing minutes. They committed nine turnovers in the fourth quarter, several of which directly contributed to easy baskets for Minnesota. Beal was given a Flagrant 1 foul for pushing Anthony Edwards during a dunk attempt.
The home crowd expressed its discontent with scattered boos in the final moments.
Anthony Edwards dominated the night in Phoenix, scoring 44 points to lead his team to victory.
The Timberwolves, with Edwards’ impressive performance, clearly outplayed the Suns. Julius Randle made his return after a month-long absence due to a groin injury, contributing 20 points, while Donte DiVincenzo lit up the scoreboard with eight three-pointers, as the Suns’ defense seemed disinterested in containing him at times.
Minnesota was the team that eliminated the Suns from the playoffs in the first round last season and has now prevailed in all three meetings this regular season.
“When challenges arise, we tend to get complacent as a team,” Durant remarked. “That’s a difficult situation to navigate.”
Phoenix tied a season high with 22 turnovers and allowed a staggering 40 points off those turnovers, with Durant, Booker, and Beal combining for 14 of those mistakes.
“That’s the reason for our loss,” Durant lamented. “Forty points off turnovers is impossible to overcome. They didn’t dominate us on the boards; we simply handed them the ball.”
