They made you sweat a little bit for it, didn’t they?
The Phoenix Suns came into Target Center on the tail end of a back-to-back, playing in Boston and losing to the Celtics the night before. Making things more intriguing was the Minnesota Timberwolves’ relation in the standings to Phoenix. Separated by just two games, a loss would creep the Wolves closer to play-in territory in the middle of a rocky stretch.
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Even with Anthony Edwards out for the Wolves, his squad was still 3.5-point favorites.
One of the most durable players in the league, Edwards’ timetable was revealed Tuesday afternoon as a re-evaluation in 1-2 weeks. Without their heartbeat, a source of energy and production was going to need to reveal itself. Early on in the game, that source was nonexistent.
Blitzing pick and rolls lazily and leaving the rolling big wide open, oftentimes reserve big Oso Ighodaro. Ighodaro is averaging just under 5 points per game this season. He started out the game 5-6 from the field and paired it with 10 points. He wasn’t doing anything outside of the norm; simply setting screens and rolling hard.
More to Ighodaro’s big start was a Wolves team that seemed lost without their best player, standing in a circle pointing at each other in trying to figure out who would inevitably set the tone.
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Answer? Bones Hyland.
Not only did Hyland get his jumper working early, but he also did his part in instilling pace into the Wolves’ offense, making it synonymous with rhythm and allowing the Wolves to ease into the game offensively. Though the Suns held a near double-digit lead for much of the first half, the home team was able to pull it back down and strolled into halftime with a one-point lead.
Notable adjustments were made on the hard roller Phoenix was sending to the basket. Rudy Gobert stayed down in coverage defensively, and it forced the Suns, specifically Jalen Green, to hoist shots. Green finished the game 3-17 from the field.
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Pair an increase in defensive involvement from Minnesota with a Julius Randle second-half surge and the drag race down the floor that Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu created, it was a night that came up aces for the Wolves after a less-than-ideal start.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 17: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his dunk against the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 116-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Goosebumps Once Again
Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle had been going through another awkward stretch on the court.
Over their last six games together, they carry a -4.0 net rating. Uncharacteristic, yes, but the product on the court was much worse than what the net rating simply gives you.
Prone to falling into your-turn, my-turn offense, where one starts taking shots when they feel like the other isn’t passing as much, therefore taking the flow out of the offense, was starting to rear its head.
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It’s never ideal when your best player goes down and needs to miss time, but in this situation, it might be beneficial for Randle to take the reins to get his confidence back for Edwards’ return and a playoff push. Heading into the Oklahoma City game, Randle had hit on just 27 percent of his threes since the new year. Over the last two games, Randle is shooting 62 percent.
But according to Head Coach Chris Finch, it’s not the shot that he’s seen the biggest sign of improvement for Randle over the last couple of games.
“His decisiveness,” he said. “The ball is finding him earlier in the offense, and I think he’s also trusting the next play a little more, too.”
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Randle said after the game that not much changes with Edwards not in the lineup. It’s hard to imagine that being the case. Randle has played extremely free over the last two games, and a tough third quarter from Edwards in Oklahoma City took the rhythm out of the offense when he had the hot hand.
“Regardless, I gotta be aggressive,” he said.
I don’t want to sound like this is at all a slight on Ant. But sometimes, when that production gets taken out of the lineup in a group of talented players, it can force new solutions to arise, and perhaps that production can be replaced in the aggregate by good ball movement and free-flowing offense that Edwards can work to ingratiate upon his return.
Randle finished the night with 32 points, marking the first time this season he’s finished with back-to-back 30-point games.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 17: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against Royce O’Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 116-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Emptying the Notebook
1). Jaden McDaniels activity on offense while Edwards is out is a non-negotiable. He was an efficient 6-12 from the field for 16 points, but I would have loved to see him a little more active. Granted, he had his hands full guarding Devin Booker (to which he got called for a couple of really tough fouls), but this stretch of games is one where I’d like to see Jaden start demanding the ball. The ball being in his hands is one of the best forms of offense this team can put together.
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2). This game showed the problem the NBA has on its hands from a game flow standpoint. It was after 9:00 (CST), and the game still had time left in the third quarter. Due to flagrant reviews, coach challenges, and regular timeouts, there were several times in which eye-rolling pauses were taken to make sure everything was set up perfectly on the floor. Look, I appreciate the effort that the NBA has put into making sure the determinations on the floor are correct. However, it’s getting to a point where it’s taking pace out of the game, which is one of the best parts about the game itself. I hope some tweaks can be made in the next couple of offseasons (think the Sky Judge the NFL has, or a shot clock getting put on how long a game stoppage takes for a challenge. Just a couple of thoughts.
Up Next
The Wolves will bring in an easier challenge for a back-to-back on Wednesday night against the tanking Utah Jazz. The Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen, and are literally trying to lose. It would be very hard to blow that one, let alone at home.
Tipoff at Target Center will be at 7:00 PM CST.
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Highlights