The Phoenix Suns are in a must-win situation from here on out as they are in a tight race for the 10th spot in the Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves, on the other hand, look to score a season series sweep.

Catch the game tomorrow at 8:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Phoenix Suns (35-38, 12-24 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Tyus Jones
  • Devin Booker
  • Ryan Dunn
  • Kevin Durant
  • Nick Richards

The Suns are in for an intense finish as they are just a game away with the Dallas Mavericks for the 10th seed. Urgency got even more heightened with the ugly blowout loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, 132-102, which snapped their four-game winning streak.

Such a loss puts their rhythm and momentum at a bad position considering they’ve fallen in all three meetings with the T-Wolves this season.

As always, it’s Kevin Durant and Devin Booker at the forefront. Both are averaging over 29 points per game on over 50% shooting in the head-to-head. However, that signifies the problem too. They are unable to carry the team despite scoring like they usually do, and no other Sun has been reliable, especially with Bradley Beal sidelined, although he too is up-and-down all year.

With all that, it’s on guys like Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, Nick Richards, Royce O’Neale, and Ryan Dunn to step up. It’s a solid cast, but they all have to put things together, and that includes the two All-Stars.

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HOME: Minnesota Timberwolves (41-32, 21-16 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Mike Conley
  • Anthony Edwards
  • Jaden McDaniels
  • Julius Randle
  • Rudy Gobert

The Timberwolves come in as 1-3 in their last four, a struggle that has come at a terrible time considering there’s a bottleneck towards the sixth and seventh seed – the latter, as you know, being inside the dreaded play-in spots. But, as mentioned, the guys at least have some sense of comfortability on the Suns due to their spotless 3-0 slate in this season’s head-to-head

All-Star Anthony Edwards (33.7 PPG, 57.1 FG%) and Julius Randle (27.7 PPG, 58.4 FG%) figure to remain as an effective 1-2 punch in the matchup. Though hot-and-cold as a tandem all year, they are both averaging huge numbers vs. the Suns, and we can expect that to be evident tomorrow. Sweet-shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo could be a big factor as well, as he has put up 19.0 PPG in two games.

Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and veterans Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert will also look to provide damage, although Gobert has been mostly quiet in the matchups.

PICKS:

Spread: Timberwolves (-7)

Over/Under: Over (223)

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