Without Chris Paul, the Phoenix Suns not only continue to maintain a very high level of competition, but also become the first team in the league to win 50 games and get playoff tickets early. Perhaps, we should also understand that Paul is like a catalyst for the transformation of players to Phoenix, not a so-called savior. Because paul, Booker and Ayton finally began to enjoy the joy of winning; because Paul, Payne, and McGee and the likes found the value of existence again.
With tickets to the playoffs, the Suns have been in hot form in recent times, still able to win in the last 5 games. And this game, they came to Minnesota, away to the Timberwolves. As a team that has been in the league for many years, the Timberwolves have finally torn off the label of the league's fish belly with the help of the top eye, revealing their fierce fangs. I have to admit that with a record of 42 wins and 31 losses, as well as the seventh place in the West, they also have a good chance of getting tickets to the playoffs early.
At the beginning of the game, the Timberwolves, who played at home, were able to take the lead in the state, and with the help of the team's leading star Downs, who shot 4 of 7 in the first quarter and sent 10 points and 5 rebounds, they played a 30-25 single-quarter score. The start quickly led the scoring, and the Timberwolves, who entered the second quarter of the showdown, were able to take advantage of the situation and further widen the point difference between the two teams. The Suns' home star Booker is in poor shape, with only 1 assist in a single quarter, and the Timberwolves, who seized the opportunity, naturally played a full-fledged state and continued to take an 8-point lead with a 34-26 score.
By the end of the first half, the Timberwolves were already 13 points ahead of the Suns. The point difference between the two teams has been widened one after another, and the Timberwolves have every chance to achieve the feat of upset counterattack. But unfortunately, after entering the second half of the competition, the Suns finally woke up in time and began a strong chase. In the third quarter of the game, Booker played 12 minutes of game time, delivering 11 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists, and Ayton was also able to send 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block with an efficient shooting rate of 5 shots and 4 shots.
With the team's starting core successive efforts, the Suns hit a 32-24 score, recovering the 8 points behind in the first half. By the time it reached the crucial final-quarter showdown, the Timberwolves were just five points ahead of the Suns. The lead was gradually dismantled, and the Suns still showed their league supremacy. In the fourth quarter of the regular time competition, Booker and Ayton can also continue to threaten, successively sending 11 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 11 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist to help the team play a 42-28 score.
In the end, the regular time of the fourth quarter was completed, and the Suns won the game with a score of 125-116. Without paul's presence, Ayton was able to prove his talent in this game. In the 35 minutes of a single game, he shot a game-high 35 points and a luxurious double-double of 14 rebounds with an efficient shooting rate of 15 of 24 shots. With this impressive statistic, Ayton can also set a new scoring record this season, so that Booker, who once scored a single game, also stood aside.
But in fact, Devin Booker did not become a supporting role in this game. He also had 28 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists in a single game, scoring a career 11,000 points, becoming the fourth youngest player in NBA history to achieve this milestone data.