MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves weathered the loss of All-Star Anthony Edwards and turned in a gritty defensive performance Tuesday night, defeating the Phoenix Suns 116-104 behind Julius Randle's dominant 32-point effort. Playing without their third-leading scorer due to knee inflammation that will sideline him for the next week or two, the Timberwolves proved their resilience while improving to 7-4 in games without their star wing.
Randle's scoring output marked his second consecutive 32-point game, establishing himself as Minnesota's primary offensive engine. He received substantial help from an effective bench unit, with Bones Hyland contributing 22 points off the bench and Ayo Dosunmu adding 19 more. The paint presence of Rudy Gobert provided the necessary anchor on the defensive end, where the veteran center collected 19 rebounds to control the boards against a Phoenix team playing shorthanded across multiple positions.
The Timberwolves' path to victory came through a crucial stretch midway through the second half. Minnesota engineered a devastating 16-2 run that began late in the third quarter, seizing command of a contest that had started poorly. The home team found itself trailing by 11 points with less than five minutes elapsed in the opening quarter, but Hyland's play proved instrumental in orchestrating the comeback. The fifth-year guard's fadeaway 3-pointer from the wing with just 0.2 seconds remaining in the first quarter trimmed the deficit to 39-36, signaling Minnesota's ability to remain composed despite early adversity.
Hyland's impact extended beyond perimeter shooting. Working in tandem with McDaniels, who stripped the ball from Royce O'Neale during a backcourt sequence, Hyland's finishing layup tied the game at 59 and exemplified the Timberwolves' ability to create plays in transition. His performance underscored the depth Minnesota possesses even with Edwards sidelined.
For Phoenix, the night represented yet another painful result on an unsuccessful road journey. Devin Booker registered a team-leading 34 points, yet the prolific scorer struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just one of seven 3-point attempts. The Suns closed out their five-game road trip with a third consecutive loss, following a 120-112 defeat in Boston the previous evening. Phoenix's offensive struggles were compounded by the absence of three top-five scorers: Grayson Allen joined Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams on the sideline due to injury, significantly compromising the team's scoring potential.
The result carries notable playoff implications for both franchises. Minnesota (42-27) entered the evening tied with Denver for fifth place in the Western Conference standings, firmly positioning themselves above the play-in tournament cutline. Phoenix (39-30), meanwhile, finds itself in seventh place—just one game behind the Timberwolves despite a significant talent disadvantage Tuesday. Still, the Suns salvaged the season series against Minnesota with a 2-1 edge, providing a small consolation in defeat.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, while the Suns travel to San Antonio on Thursday to continue their recovery.