The Phoenix Suns entered Friday night’s matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves facing high stakes, as both teams continued group play in the NBA Cup. Phoenix opened the night at 1-0 in group action, while Minnesota arrived with a 2-0 record and a chance to strengthen its hold on the top spot.
The Suns were once again shorthanded, playing without starting guards Jalen Green and Grayson Allen. Green has missed 13 games with a hamstring injury, and Allen remained sidelined for a third consecutive contest because of a right quad contusion.
Despite the absences, the Suns delivered one of their gutsiest performances of the season in a back-and-forth game marked by lead changes and high pressure moments. Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 22 points, continuing his consistent stretch of play. Devin Booker, however, endured one of his toughest outings this season. Booker finished with 16 points on 4-for-18 shooting. While he tallied 10 assists, he also committed nine turnovers.
Still, Booker's struggles did not prevent Phoenix from securing the win thanks to a breakout performance from Collin Gillespie. The reserve guard scored 20 points off the bench and delivered the deciding basket — a driving floater with six seconds left that completed one of the most improbable comebacks of the season.
Phoenix trailed 113-105 with just 50 seconds remaining before ripping off nine unanswered points to stun Minnesota and improve to 2-0 in Cup play.
The Suns will be off Saturday before hosting back-to-back home games against the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets on Sunday and Monday.
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