The Phoenix Suns picked up a 108-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves — and they did it without their best player, Devin Booker. Head coach Jordan Ott is doing a fantastic job so far, as the Suns have an unexpected 14-10 record.
As for Minnesota, they continue to struggle against strong opponents. They have only one win this season against teams with a winning record.
Phoenix started the game better and led by six after the first quarter, while nothing was working for the Timberwolves. It looked like Anthony Edwards was playing alone, scoring more than half of Minnesota’s points in the opening period (12). His teammates got going in the second quarter, but not enough to tie the game or complete a comeback, so Ott’s team went to halftime with a four-point advantage.
The third quarter was intense. Mark Williams played at a high level and dominated inside, leaving four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert without an answer. In one sequence, Williams had a clear path to the basket and went up for an easy dunk, but the French center hit him with an unnecessary elbow to the ribs. Luckily, the Suns big man — who hit his first career three-pointer in this game — was not injured, while Gobert received an automatic ejection. Even without their starting center, Minnesota managed to tie the game heading into the fourth.
Rudy Gobert ejected after this play.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 9, 2025
Phoenix had a scare when Dillon Brooks took a hit and headed to the locker room, but after medical treatment he returned to the bench, and later to the game. The Suns opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run led by their bench, forcing Chris Finch and his team into trouble early. The visitors held a solid lead, but in the closing minutes Edwards and Julius Randle cut the deficit to just three points entering the final minute.
Brooks and Collin Gillespie both missed chances to seal the win, giving Minnesota an opportunity to make it dramatic. With nine seconds left, Edwards went for a drive instead of a three-pointer and cut the lead to one, prompting Ott to call a timeout. Gillespie was fouled three seconds later and knocked down both free throws to push the lead back to three. Minnesota called timeout to draw up a final play, but Jaden McDaniels missed the potential game-tying three, allowing Phoenix to escape with the victory.
Mark Williams led the Suns with 22 points and seven rebounds. Collin Gillespie added 19, Dillon Brooks 18, Grayson Allen 12, Royce O’Neale 11, and Oso Ighodaro 10 points.
On the other side, Anthony Edwards poured in 40 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Julius Randle finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, Rudy Gobert had 15 points and eight boards, and Bones Hyland contributed 14 points. It was a rough night for Naz Reid, who scored only six points (2/12 from the field), and Jaden McDaniels, who ended with four points on 1/7 shooting in 40 minutes and missed the last shot of the game.
