Phoenix Suns go cold from 3, struggle on defense against Rockets
The Phoenix Suns dropped a game and went 0-2 against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 5, 2025.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Phoenix Suns once again took down the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Collin Gillespie sank two free throws with 6.3 seconds left in regulation, lifting Phoenix to a 108-105 win on Monday, Dec. 8, before a crowd of 16,046 at Target Center.
The Suns (14-10) snapped Minnesota’s five-game winning streak and improved to 2-0 against the Timberwolves this season.
Mark Williams posted 22 points and seven rebounds while Gillespie added 19 as Phoenix ended a two-game losing skid.
Gillespie hit the game winner to beat Minnesota (15-9) last month in Phoenix, 114-113.
Prior to last month’s game, the T-Wolves had won eight straight over the Suns dating back to the 2024 NBA playoffs, when they swept Phoenix in the first round.
Last season, Minnesota went 4-0 against the Suns in the regular season. This season, Phoenix has taken the first two matchups.
Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 40 points after initially being listed as questionable with an illness. He scored 41 in the first matchup, but missed two free throws late to set up Gillespie’s heroics.
T-Wolves center Rudy Gobert was ejected in the third quarter after his foul on Mark Williams was ruled a flagrant 2. Gobert finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Dillon Brooks played on Monday after being listed as questionable for the game with left Achilles soreness. He finished with 18 points on 7-of-20 shooting.
Devin Booker (right groin strain), Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (right hip strain) all sat out.
Allen basket. Fans want travel.
Gobert crazy tip in.
Chris Finch incoming.
Suns 61-57 at half.
PHX: Mark Williams 14 pts, Allen 11 pts. Team: 7-of-19 3s.
MIN: Anthony Edwards 21 pts, Gobert 12 pts. Team 6-of-21 on 3s. #Suns pic.twitter.com/QQJjMOG7Tg
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 9, 2025Mark Williams’ huge first half, Suns up at break
Mark Williams came into Monday’s game averaging 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first season in Phoenix.
He has a team-high 14 points and four rebounds in leading Phoenix to a 61-57 halftime lead. Grayson Allen has added 11 points, but has three personal fouls.
The Suns are out of challenges after being successful on the two that NBA teams are allotted in a game.
Anthony Edwards leads all scorers with 21 points. He scored 41 in Minnesota’s 114-113 loss to the Suns last month in Phoenix.
Rudy Gobert has 12 points and eight rebounds. The Timberwolves are just 6-of-21 from 3.
Edwards, Brooks available for Suns-Timberwolves rematch
Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been upgraded to available for against Minnesota as he was previously listed as questionable with left Achilles soreness.
He was a game-time decision.
The Suns will start Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen, Brooks, Royce O’Neale and Mark Williams. This is the same starting lineup from the Suns’ loss at Houston.
Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards and reserve Terrence Shannon Jr. have been upgraded to available as they were previously listed as questionable with an illness.
The T-Wolves are starting Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.
The Suns edged the T-Wolves in their first meeting, 114-113, last month in Phoenix.
Edwards and Brooks had their share of verbal exchanges in the game, but Brooks got the last word as Edwards missed two free throws late that led to Gillespie’s game-winning shot.
“They were talking too early and I love that. When guys get too confident and once the pressure starts heating up, their eyes start getting big and they start getting scared. The person who was talking too much made the two turnovers and missed the shot.”
Dillon Brooks as… pic.twitter.com/19p3SfpCTk
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 22, 2025
“They were talking too early and I love that,” Brook said after the Suns’ win on Nov. 21 over the T-Wolves. “When guys get too confident and once the pressure starts heating up, their eyes start getting big and they start getting scared.”
Injury updates: Edwards added to T-Wolves report
T-Wolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards and backup guard Terrence Shannon Jr. are both now on the team’s injury report, listed as questionable due to illness.
Suns forward Dillon Brooks remains questionable with left Achilles soreness as he’s coming off a 23-point effort in last week’s loss at Houston in his return game. Brooks played two seasons for the Rockets, as he was traded to Phoenix in the Kevin Durant deal.
Suns guards Devin Booker (right groin strain), Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (right hip strain) are ruled out of the game.
Booker did post morning shootaround work and is scheduled for a re-evaluation this week. Booker didn’t play in Phoenix’s loss Dec. 5 to the Rockets.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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