Preview: Suns Face Wolves

The Suns are looking to get to win number 46.

Nov 15, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts against the / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns (45-31) are continuing the pursuit of a top-six seed in the Western Conference tonight against the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves (53-23).

The Suns are riding off of a two-game win streak over quality competition - these victories have placed them in the inner circle of the playoff picture (top 6), while the Timberwolves are looking to secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Minnesota will be without Karl Anthony-Towns, who is still recovering from a meniscus tear, while the Suns will likely return Grayson Allen to the lineup after the shooter missed Wednesday's contest with hip soreness. Jusuf Nurkic is questionable with calf soreness.

A brief rundown on Minnesota's season, previewing a key matchup, and a game prediction will follow:

Wolves: Best in the West?

This is the first time the Suns have squared off with Minnesota since November 15 - a game in which Phoenix won 133-115.

The loss dropped Minnesota to 8-3 on the season - they have managed to go 45-20 since that juncture and have solidified themselves as a legitimate title contender even without Towns.

Much of the Timberwolves' success this season has been predicated around a stingy defense that is arguably historically great, along with a balanced scoring attack that sees six players average double digit scoring figures.

Rudy Gobert is a mortal lock to win yet another defensive player of the year. Anthony Edwards is a shoe-in for an All-NBA spot. The supporting cast is stout.

This game will be an uphill battle for the Suns

Key Matchup: Mike Conley vs Bradley Beal

Two of the more unheralded players for their respective squads this season, Conley has been an ideal floor general for Minnesota this season - including shooting north of 43% on three-point attempts.

Beal has taken over the full-time facilitator role over the last week - and has excelled in it despite the modest statistical output.

Beal is the best player on the squad at pressuring the rim, has done a phenomenal job setting the other stars up, has crashed the boards with tenacity, and has played solid on-ball defense.

This matchup will certainly be one that won't be talked about much, but could be vital to the ouctome of the game.

Prediction: Suns Win

The Suns will extend the win streak to three games on the back of Devin Booker once again.

Minnesota does have a historically great defense. The Suns are a rare team that can match-up well against the Wolves' stingy defense. Both can be true.

The Suns ultimately come out on top behind a high-volume three-point effort and thus will put themselves in a perfect position to secure a spot in the top-six come playoff time.

Suns-Wolves is set to tip shortly after 7:00 PM local time tonight.