In the second game of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Suns challenged the Timberwolves away. In the last game, the Suns' heavy defeat to the Timberwolves exposed a lot of problems. In this game, the Suns were beaten 8-0 at the beginning, during which the Suns also made 3 turnovers. The Suns fought back in the second quarter, but the offense was lackluster in the second half. In the end, the Suns defeated the Timberwolves and fell behind 0-2.
Match data
Durant had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal on 6-of-15 shooting, Beal had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers on 6-of-17 shooting, and Booker had 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 6 turnovers on 6-of-13 shooting.
Huazi had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 1 block on 3-of-12 shooting, and McDanan had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
Star performance
Durant got off to a bad start, but after that he adjusted his style of play in time, hitting consecutive mid-range shots on the offensive end, and also hitting a one-and-one, the ball showed a combination of height advantage and back-to-back play. Durant has reached this age and has to make changes in his style of play to be able to extend his career.
Booker performed badly in the first quarter, but fortunately he grabbed an offensive rebound and scored 2+1 under the basket to regain some face for himself. Booker's performance in the last game was very stretched, and many fans will ask Booker if he is dating Jenner again. The Suns' big three in this year's playoffs are all healthy and need to take the opportunity to prove themselves. In addition, a clash broke out between Booker and McDan, but fortunately, the referee stopped it in time.
What Beal remembered most about him was that he dunked the ball directly in front of an empty basket. That's how he was shown in this game, and it's estimated that his body hasn't gotten back to his best. On the offensive end, he wasn't very efficient, but he still delivered a lot of good assists.
Team Analysis
There are three main reasons why the Suns' state has fluctuated greatly this season: First, Durant is old after all, and he has declined significantly on both offensive and defensive ends compared with his peak. Second, Beal has been on and off this season due to injuries, which has caused him to run in with the team for too short a time, coupled with his own inconsistent form. Third, the team has been lacking a good playmaker, and Booker is both a father and a mother in the team, both responsible for offense and energy to organize the team.