Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:45 AM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	at	Minnesota Timberwolves
30-12		6-34
6:00 PM Mountain / 8:00 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, NBA League Pass
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Sebastian Telfair
Raja Bell	SG	Marko Jaric
Grant Hill	SF	Rashad McCants
Shawn Marion	PF	Ryan Gomes
Amare Stoudemire	C	Al Jefferson

The Suns face off with the Timberwolves for the third time this season tonight. They'll be hoping for a better showing than they had the last time they were in Minnesota, when they became one of just six marks in the win column for the Timberwolves this season. The Suns are coming off of last night's last minute victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, but should still be fresher than they were in that December game which was the final game of a five-game trip, and the fourth in five nights. When the Suns faced the Timberwolves Saturday, it was the first of two consecutive 20+ point blowouts at home, and despite Al Jefferson again having a big night, the Suns held the Timberwolves to 95 points while scoring 115 themselves. Another effort like that one will do nicely.

As usual, live blogging will start in the comments of this post at tipoff. Check TwolvesBlog for the view from the Timberwolves' side.

Let's do it again:

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Comments

Spurs Lakers on ESPN

I have to admitt that I will be flipping back and forth between our game and the Spurs/Lakers on ESPN....is that disloyal?

Orangutans are this year's Lemurs

by Seth Pollack on Jan 23, 2008 1:05 PM MST reply actions

I'll be doing the same if I can be watching

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 23, 2008 3:48 PM MST up reply actions

I don't think so

So long as you stay mostly focused on Phoenixs blowout win, why not watch a compeitive game between our two biggest threats?

by MichiganSunsFan on Jan 23, 2008 2:24 PM MST reply actions

Lakers/Spurs

Here's hoping they beat up on each other, Kobe goes off for 50 and the Lakers still lose by 1 point to the Spurs!!

by TwinnerA on Jan 23, 2008 3:05 PM MST reply actions

I'm pulling for the spurs

I think the spurs will be there at the end anyways, it's the lakers that I'd like to see drop back a few games. Can't believe I just said that...I guess it's win win for us, one has to lose!! :-) They should play 3-4 games in a row against each other.

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 23, 2008 3:51 PM MST reply actions

They just might do that...

...sometime in May. Or June.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 4:24 PM MST up reply actions

playoff jokes...hahaha funny

Boy, I said this a few months ago, and it's becoming more and more true, the west is so deep now with the emergence of the lakers, Hornets, others

Crazy...but fun. But also making the road to victory in the playoffs all the more sweet...

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 23, 2008 6:05 PM MST up reply actions

Lakers-Spurs

Robert Horry should hip check Kobe into the scorer's table.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Jan 23, 2008 5:10 PM MST reply actions

Game on!

Suns win the tip, but Al Jefferson gets the steal. Suns get a steal of their own and end up first on the scoreboard with the emphatic Amare dunk. Al Jefferson doesn't waste time getting on the board either. Tied up at 2 all. I hate to do this twice in a row, but I'm once again multi-tasking, eating dinner while watching and typing. So, comments will be slow for the next few minutes of game time.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:14 PM MST reply actions

Q1 9:28 - Amare's night...

...in the early going. I hope he gets 50. He deserves it having to deal with Al Jefferson all night.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:16 PM MST reply actions

Q1 8:10 - More Amare

This time with the long jumper. He's definitely feeling it.

..Marion with the steal gets it to Amare again. Suns have the 10-point lead with 14-4. Great start by the Suns.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:18 PM MST reply actions

Amare on fire much?

Thank God I picked up STAT for my fantasy team!!! This is sure a nice start to the night. Hope to see some more DJ tonight too.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 6:21 PM MST reply actions

Picked up STAT?

What kind of league are you in that he was available in the first place?

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:23 PM MST up reply actions

Well...

it was the same league that got started on this site at the beginning of the year

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 6:25 PM MST up reply actions

Oh ok.

I thought you meant that you picked up STAT on waivers or something.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:30 PM MST up reply actions

Q1 6:25 - Too much Al

Muscles in for the offensive rebound and the three-point play.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:23 PM MST reply actions

Q1 6:02 - Wolves getting back into it

Close to three after the Marko Jaric jumper.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:24 PM MST reply actions

Dangit!!!

Well looks like I jinked the Suns, sigh.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 6:25 PM MST reply actions

Q1 5:17 - Way, WAY too much Al

...and way too many missed jumpers for the Suns.

Jefferson at the line for two ties it up at 16.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:25 PM MST reply actions

Q1 4:40 - If Nash and Amare keep teaming up

...Nash could end up with 10 assists in the first quarter! He already has six. Too bad he doesn't get one here. Amare at the line for the free throws.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:27 PM MST reply actions

Q1 3:14 - Amare should have taken that jumper

I guess he was too wide open?

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:29 PM MST reply actions

Q1 1:02 - I guess the DJ experiment is over?

Suns go with LB, Bell, Diaw, Marion, and Skinner during Nash and Amare's rest on the bench.

...speaking of Bell, his three-pointer gives the Suns a one-point lead at 27-26.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:36 PM MST reply actions

Q1 00:38 - Too many turnovers

LB's pass bounces off of Raja's hand out of bounds.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:38 PM MST reply actions

After one

After trailing by 10 early, the Wolves got back in and then some. They lead 32-27. The Suns have 6 turnovers, and have already given up five offensive rebounds. Amare has been great, but so far he's just canceling out Al Jefferson. Boris Diaw especially looks to be in for a rough night so far, with two of those aforementioned turnovers.

More energy needed.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:40 PM MST reply actions

Q1 11:04 - Wow, this is painful

LB with the turnover and then the silly foul. This after missing the layup on the prior possession. Hey, if we want rookie mistakes, play DJ. :)

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:42 PM MST reply actions

Q1 9:17 - What was that!?

Three-pointer by Raja not even close. Suns look a little off right now, and that's being kind. Wolves lead 41-31.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:46 PM MST reply actions

Q2 7:47 - Marko Jaric looking like an All-Star

...meanwhile, another example of why LB isn't Nash.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:52 PM MST reply actions

Q2 7:20 - Nash to the rescue?

Not that time. Wolves up 49-32 after another make by Jefferson.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM MST reply actions

Q2 6:06 - No excuse for that

Suns somehow let Antoine Walker get the offensive rebound, leading to yet another second chance score. Just because the Suns are capable of coming back from 20-point deficits in the blink of an eye doesn't mean you have to get yourself in that hole to begin with.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 6:58 PM MST reply actions

Q2 4:00 - Nash with the hustle play

To save the possession. We need more of that.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:01 PM MST reply actions

Q2 2:03 Lord have mercy

Seriously. Begging for divine intervention may be desperate, but nothing else appears to be working.

...well, except Steve's three-pointer.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:09 PM MST reply actions

Q2 00:26 - Looking better now

And by "better" I mean we may get to the half down "only" 13.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:11 PM MST reply actions

At the half

Suns trail by 15 heading into the lockerroom at the half. I'm thinking somebody is going to boil over. Time for Raja to give one of those fiery halftime speeches he's been so good at in recent seasons.

11 offensive rebounds by the Wolves, 11 turnovers by the Suns. End. Of. Story.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:13 PM MST reply actions

how many

effin offensive rebounds do those twolves have? 15? 20? Dear Lord it is killing us like the plague!

by jacksonian on Jan 23, 2008 7:15 PM MST reply actions

ok fine

then o great fortune teller how do we stop this cursed rebounding display and lacksdaisical ball-handling?

by jacksonian on Jan 23, 2008 7:17 PM MST reply actions

Time to check in on the other game

Kwame!!!!

Orangutans are this year's Lemurs

by Seth Pollack on Jan 23, 2008 7:22 PM MST reply actions

Well that sucked

I just finish reading for my history class only to to on the computer to find the Suns getting owned.

WTF!!!!!??!?!?!?!

They better get their damned heads back in the game, they should be able to beat these guys in their sleep!!!!

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 7:24 PM MST reply actions

huh?

How's it possible that the Matrix has zero rebounds at the half? I haven't seen any of the game and just checked the score on my Treo and can't believe my eyes.

by TwinnerA on Jan 23, 2008 7:35 PM MST up reply actions

Q3 10:46 - Jaric again

...at least Raja gets it back with a three of his own. 55-69, Wolves.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:30 PM MST reply actions

Q3 7:28 - Amare picks up his 4th foul

...heads to the bench. At least he'll be fresh for the fourth quarter.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:36 PM MST reply actions

Q3 7:06 - Micro lineup

I guess Mike D decided if the Suns weren't going to rebound anyway, may as well go small. Nash, LB, Bell, Marion, and Diaw.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:37 PM MST reply actions

Q3 4:30 - Nash for three

Apologies for the lack of comments. Aside from the game being same old, same old, I also finally decided to eat that dinner I started on at the start of the game. Suns are down 66-80 at the moment. Not a lot of progress in closing that deficit.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:44 PM MST reply actions

Around the league

The Suns will lose some ground tonight if they don't find a way to pull this one out. The Mavericks predictably beat the Bobcats. The Lakers are currently up a few points on the Spurs (hate to say it, but I did mention "rising above it" as a possibility for Kobe and crew).

On a brighter note, Denver is up pretty good on the Hawks in the second quarter, even without Carmelo Anthony.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:49 PM MST reply actions

Q3 1:25 - DJ gets the call

I guess it's that "nothing else is working" thing again.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:50 PM MST reply actions

After three

A little bit of deja vu here. Last night I commented that the Suns needed to do better than making up two points of their half-time deficit if they wanted to win. Sure enough, they came back and did it.

The Suns now trail 88-75 after being behind by 15 at the half.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:54 PM MST reply actions

ARG!!!

Man games like this make me wanna commit ritual suicide with a samurai sword. I wish i could watch the game, but from what I see online everything that could go wrong is going wrong. Are they tired or do they just not care?

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 7:57 PM MST reply actions

No idea

I'm waiting to hear if there was an outbreak of flu, or a mystery injury, or maybe their flight was delayed until 4am? No clue. Maybe the Wolves are just one heck of a matchup problem.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:00 PM MST up reply actions

Q4 10:18 - Must learn to finish those

DJ fails to finish at the rim following two empty possessions by the Wolves.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 7:58 PM MST reply actions

Yeah......

this game is over. Disaster on just about every front right now. Wow what a pathetic loss. Worse of the year???? Possible.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:00 PM MST reply actions

Q4 9:02 - The Wolves are missing shots

...the Suns just need to get the rebound when they do.

...at least they dodged one on that possession. Or did until the silly turnover on the other end. Grr....

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:02 PM MST reply actions

Perhaps....

the basketball gods hate the Suns tonight?

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:04 PM MST reply actions

Q4 7:54 - Not over yet

Still plenty of time to go. That LB three would have helped, but as is par for the night, clanks off the rim.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:04 PM MST reply actions

Q4 6:41- Even my kitty can't take anymore

Gets up and walks to the back room after that slam by McCants. Suns are down by 18 now, make that 17 after Amare's jumper. 81-98.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:06 PM MST reply actions

Well.....

with how they're playing it would take an act of God to win along with all of the Wolves players suddenly breaking their legs.....at once

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:08 PM MST up reply actions

Down by 19 that is...

...the Suns had a rough night, but Amare's jumper still counted for two.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 9:17 PM MST up reply actions

Q4 5:35 - Where was that before?

Suns finally show a bit of energy on those last two possessions. Marion with the dunk, and the defense forces a stop on the other end. Down 15 with 5:38 to go. Still enough time for the comeback?

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:08 PM MST reply actions

It would...

be one of he most epic comebacks ever at this point. We'll see.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:09 PM MST up reply actions

Q4 5:08 - Finally making some progress

It's sad when an 11-point deficit looks good.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:11 PM MST reply actions

Stops Please

MY KINGDOM FOR A STRING OF STOPS!!!!!!

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:11 PM MST reply actions

well

i must be the curse; as soon as i stopped watching online, the deficit went from 19 to 11. Ill just listen to you guys for the rest of the game

by jacksonian on Jan 23, 2008 8:15 PM MST reply actions

Q4 4:02 - LB for three

...but the Al Jefferson gets the three-point play on the other end.

I was expecting the Wolves fans to break out the MVP chants when he shot that free throw.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:15 PM MST reply actions

Update on Lakers/SA

Bad news or good news, depending on who you were cheering for, but LA leads the Spurs by nine at halftime.

On the definite good news front, Denver leads Atlanta by 10.

The Blazers are about to go down to the Hornets. I guess that means the Suns drop to 4th if they finish losing this game. That's looking likely. 107-94, Wolves with 2:43 to go.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:18 PM MST reply actions

Q4 1:59 - That should do it

Telfair with the three. Looks like the Wolves are going to get this one. 110-96.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:19 PM MST reply actions

Fail!!!

Well the Suns sure failed at life tonight. God why is it that we gotta lose to these lottery bound teams that we should be crushing like small bugs beneath the iron clad boots of our invincible army of basketballers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:21 PM MST reply actions

Scheisse!!!!!!!

Der Scheißkerl Suns speiltst schrecklich!!!!!!

Excuse me. See what happens when the Suns play like blind school girls? I start cursing in German.

God loses like this are so annoying, especially when I go to school in Laker Land where they wont let me here the end of it. ARG!!!!!!

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 8:26 PM MST reply actions

Q4 00:28 - Just get it over with!

Geez... Timeout while down 10 with 28 to go.

...Nash's three closes it to 7, but the Suns have to send Brewer to the line. At least he misses one.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:27 PM MST reply actions

Q4 00:10 - Steve can't save the day

...this time. Misses the three, and the Suns foul again. Coach is dragging out the torture as long as possible I guess. I like that strategy.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:28 PM MST reply actions

And that's the game

Final score 117-107.

Yet another dubious distinction for the Suns--the Wolves just got their first win streak of the season.

Look on the bright side: At least we won't be seeing these guys in the playoffs.

Thanks everyone who stuck this out. New writer srp will be doing the recap for this one. (Talk about being thrown into the fire!)

'Night, all.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 8:31 PM MST reply actions

How do you...

shoot 57.5% from the field against the worst team in the league, and still lose...easy, you let them almost double you up on the boards 48 to 26. That's pathetic.

by Aluminum Foyle on Jan 23, 2008 8:59 PM MST up reply actions

Around the NBA update

After SA came back in the second half to knock off the Lakers, ladies and gentlemen, your new #1 in the west is...

...The New Orleans Hornets. They are now the sole survivors of the 12-loss club.

As the West Turns continues....

Oh, and Denver knocked off Atlanta for us too.

by TexSUN on Jan 23, 2008 9:34 PM MST reply actions

Wierd times

Man the west is weird this year. Not a single team seems to have what it takes to run away with even a division, much less the whole Conference. Strange indeed.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 23, 2008 10:21 PM MST up reply actions