The Phoenix Suns are trending down and will be ending their roadtrip by visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Catch the game tomorrow at 4:30 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Phoenix Suns (9-4, 4-3 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Tyus Jones
  • Devin Booker
  • Bradley Beal (out) / Royce O’Neal
  • Kevin Durant (out) / Ryan Dunn
  • Jusuf Nurkic

The Suns have only gone 1-3 since Kevin Durant got sidelined with a calf injury. They are averaging 106.3 points per game with a -10 net rating across that span. On Saturday, they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 99-83, which marked their lowest scoring output of the season.

Alongside Durant, starter Bradley Beal (17.8 PPG) and sharpshooter Grayson Allen are both expected to remain out. Such will mean more opportunities for Devin Booker, though he’s not done much as he is only notching 22.5 points on 42.3% shooting on the season thus far. We’ll see if the marquee matchup against Anthony Edwards can bring the best out of him.

Big man Jusuf Nurkic (8.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG) is a game-time decision; his presence will be vital as well considering the counterpart on the opposition’s side: Rudy Gobert. Booker’s main help will be Tyus Jones (10.4 PPG, 6.2 APG), Royce O’Neale (9.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.5 APG), and Josh Okogie (11.4 PPG).

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HOME: Minnesota Timberwolves (7-6, 4-2 HOME)

Projected starting five:

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

The Timberwolves snapped a three-game skid on Saturday with a 130-126 overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings on the road, where they survived a 60-point explosion from De’Aaron Fox. Minny has been a bit underwhelming thus far–as evident in the team record–but every win can be a good starting point to finally hitting their stride.

Despite the team struggles, All-Star Anthony Edwards (28.4 PPG) is still THAT guy, and we’ll keep seeing his unrelenting, downhill attack, which is getting mixed up with a lot of outside shots now as he is attempting the second-most threes per game in the league at 11.6 per outing, all while compiling a really good 42.4% clip. New T-Wolve Julius Randle is still looking for his ultimate fit but is posting nice numbers: 20.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists.

Naz Reid (15.4 PPG) and Donte DiVincenzo (8.9 PPG) are the third and fourth options, though the latter is in a funk as of late. Finally, there’s Rudy Gobert (10.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.4 BPG) and Jaden McDaniels, who will anchor the team’s defense. Gobert has a comfortable spot in the interior, especially if Nurkic is out.

PICKS:

Spread: Timberwolves (+7)

Over/Under: Over (219)

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