The Suns won 134-124 at home against the Timberwolves to make a nine-game winning streak. If they win the next game, the Suns will have a 10-game winning streak, and they have already won a 18-game winning streak this season, setting a new team record.
Since entering 2022, the Suns' record is as high as 12 wins and 1 loss, and currently ranks first in the West and first in the league with a record of 39 wins and 9 losses. So far this season, the Suns have won 19-7 against teams with a winning percentage of more than 50%, 20-2 against teams with a winning percentage of less than 50%, and 17-3 in games that have reached key moments, all of which are the first in the league, and the Suns are currently the only team in the league that ranks in the top five in terms of offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency.
In today's game, Paul played 37 minutes and shot 5-of-9, including 4-of-5 from three-point range and 7-of-9 from the free throw line, for a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. Booker played 37 minutes and shot 10-of-26, including 4-of-10 from three-point range and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, for 29 points, three rebounds and nine assists.
Cameron Johnson played 38 minutes and had 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 8-of-13 shooting, and 5-of-9 three-point shooting. Biyombo had 14 points and 12 rebounds, averaging 14.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in the last six games and shooting 67.9 percent from the field.
For the Timberwolves, Towns played 31 minutes, scoring 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists on 8-of-20 shooting, and 2-of-7 three-pointers. Edwards played 37 minutes and shot 9-of-20, including 4-of-11 three-pointers and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, and had 27 points, five rebounds, 10 assists and four steals. Malik Beasley played 28 minutes and scored 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
The Suns have been able to achieve the first place in the West this season, and Paul and Booker are indispensable. So far in the regular season, the 36-year-old Paul has averaged 10.2 assists per game and only 2.3 turnovers, his highest assist-to-turnover ratio since the 2014-15 season. Booker also performed well, averaging 25 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
Although the Suns are at number one in the league and Paul and Booker are brilliant, neither of them missed an All-Star starter, while the Warriors, who are second in the West, have two All-Star starts. Of course, this is mainly because Paul and Booker are both guards, and in the fan vote, they are not as good as Curry and Morant, and naturally they are not eligible for the All-Star start.
Although Paul and Booker both missed the All-Star race, the two of them have no problem being named to the All-Star bench this season. In addition, in the MVP list, Paul and Booker both entered the top ten, and they are also the only two players who rank in the top ten of the MVP list but do not qualify for the All-Star starter.