The Phoenix Suns faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Many fans expected a close series because both teams had talented players. However, the Timberwolves dominated the entire series and swept the Suns 4-0. This article reviews each game, explains the key player performances, and provides important match player stats.
| Player | Team | Points per Game | Rebounds per Game | Assists per Game |
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | 31 | 6 | 5 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | 23.5 | 9 | 2.5 |
| Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | 15 | 13 | 1 |
| Jaden McDaniels | Timberwolves | 12.5 | 5 | 2 |
| Mike Conley | Timberwolves | 12 | 3 | 5.5 |
| Kevin Durant | Suns | 28 | 7 | 4 |
| Devin Booker | Suns | 26 | 5 | 6 |
| Bradley Beal | Suns | 20 | 4 | 5 |
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
The Timberwolves started the series strong by winning the first game 120-95. Minnesota’s defense was excellent, and its offense was efficient. Anthony Edwards led the team with 33 points. He scored 18 of those points in the third quarter, which helped the Timberwolves pull away from the Suns. Karl-Anthony Towns also contributed with 19 points, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 points off the bench. Rudy Gobert controlled the paint with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
On the Suns’ side, Kevin Durant was the top performer. He scored 31 points while shooting 65 percent from the field. Bradley Beal added 15 points. However, the Suns were out-rebounded by a large margin. The Timberwolves grabbed 52 rebounds compared to just 28 for the Suns. Minnesota also scored 52 points in the paint, while Phoenix only managed 34.
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
The Timberwolves continued their strong play in Game 2 and won 105-93. Jaden McDaniels had an excellent game, scoring a playoff career-high 25 points. Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley each scored 18 points. Minnesota’s defense again caused problems for Phoenix. The Suns committed 20 turnovers, which the Timberwolves converted into 31 points.
The Suns’ star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal struggled in this game. Together, they made only 18 of their 45 shot attempts, which is 40 percent shooting. The Timberwolves used this to maintain control of the game and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Game 3: Timberwolves 117, Suns 100
In Game 3, the Timberwolves took full control of the series by winning 117-100. Anthony Edwards was the star of the game again, scoring 36 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter alone. Rudy Gobert supported him with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Timberwolves had six players who scored in double figures. They also controlled the rebounding battle once again, grabbing 50 rebounds while the Suns only had 28.
Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points, while Kevin Durant scored 25 and Devin Booker added 23 points. Although all three stars scored well, they could not overcome the strong and balanced performance of the Timberwolves.
Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116
In Game 4, the Suns fought hard to avoid elimination, but the Timberwolves finished the sweep with a 122-116 win. Anthony Edwards was unstoppable, scoring 40 points. He scored 31 of those points in the second half, helping his team come from behind. Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Devin Booker had his best game of the series, scoring a playoff career-high 49 points. Kevin Durant also played well with 33 points. Even with these strong performances, the Suns could not hold off the Timberwolves in the final minutes. Minnesota completed the 4-0 sweep and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals.
Series Overview
The Timberwolves’ sweep of the Suns was their first playoff series win in 20 years. Anthony Edwards played at a superstar level throughout the series. His combination of scoring, athleticism, and leadership made a big difference for Minnesota. Rudy Gobert provided strong defense and rebounding, while Karl-Anthony Towns gave solid scoring support.
The Suns struggled with consistency throughout the series. Although their three stars had some strong individual performances, they could not perform together at the same time in most games. The team also had trouble with turnovers, rebounding, and defensive coverage. These weaknesses were exposed by the Timberwolves, who were more balanced and better on both offense and defense.
Key Player Statistics
Here is a simple summary of the key players performances from the series:
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves): He averaged 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. His scoring was the most consistent in the series, and he stepped up in key moments.
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves): He averaged 23.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He provided inside scoring and rebounding support.
- Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves): He averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. His defense and rebounding helped control the paint.
- Kevin Durant (Suns): He averaged 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Durant was the Suns’ most consistent scorer in the series.
- Devin Booker (Suns): He averaged 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. His best performance came in Game 4, but he struggled to find rhythm earlier in the series.
- Bradley Beal (Suns): He averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Beal had some solid moments but did not have a major impact overall.
Team Performances
The Minnesota Timberwolves were better in nearly every important part of the game. They were stronger on defense, better at rebounding, and more efficient on offense. They also had better ball movement, more balanced scoring, and fewer turnovers.
The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, depended too much on their three star players. When one or more of them struggled, the team could not find scoring from other players. The Suns’ lack of bench depth hurt them throughout the series. Their defense was not able to slow down Anthony Edwards, and they lost the rebounding battle in every game.
Conclusion
The 2024 NBA Playoff series between the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves showed the difference between a balanced team and a team that relies too much on its stars. The Timberwolves used strong team play, defense, and rebounding to sweep the Suns 4-0. Anthony Edwards emerged as one of the best young stars in the league, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert provided strong support. The Suns will need to make adjustments in the off-season to build more depth and improve their defense. For the Timberwolves, this victory marked a major step forward, as they advanced to the next round full of confidence and momentum.
