Suns bounce back from loss, beat Timberwolves 113-101
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks to pass the ball around Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the second half .[AP/Rick Scuteri]
Chris Paul scored 20 points, Devin Booker added 16 and the Phoenix Suns bounced back from a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves the night before by beating them 113-101 on Friday.
Mikal Bridges scored 17 points and Langston Galloway added 14 off the bench for the Suns, who improved to 27-13 and have won 16 of their last 20 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 24 points. Ricky Rubio had 21 points and 10 assists for Minnesota, which fell to 10-32.
Minnesota stunned Phoenix on Thursday night with a 123-119 comeback win. Towns and rookie Anthony Edwards combined to score 83 points.
The Timberwolves looked as though they might pull off another upset for a while on Friday. In the midst of a 10-0 Minnesota run during the second quarter that gave the Timberwolves a 45-43 lead, Suns coach Monty Williams was ejected after receiving two quick technicals for arguing with the officials.
That seemed to ignite the Suns, who went on a 17-2 spurt that gave Phoenix a 60-47 advantage late in the first half. The Suns led 64-54 at the break.
The Timberwolves rallied in the second half, scoring the first 15 points to push ahead 69-64 with 7:39 left in the third quarter. The Suns regained their composure and took an 83-78 lead into the fourth.
Minnesota didn’t get any closer after the Suns opened the fourth period with an 11-3 surge to put the game away. Bridges had five points in that spurt.
Edwards finished with 11 points one night after scoring a career-high 42. The No. 1 overall draft pick finished 4 of 18 from the field and had seven turnovers.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Malik Beasley (NBA suspension), Jordan McLaughlin (health and safety protocols) and D’Angelo Russell (left knee surgery) did not play. … Minnesota fell to 44-73 against the Suns.
Suns: Williams was ejected for the first time in two seasons with the Suns. In fact, he was whistled for his first two technical fouls over the same span. … F Cam Johnson missed his sixth straight game because of the league’s health and safety protocol.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Return home to face Oklahoma City on Monday.
Suns: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.