Game 3 playoff live updates

Comply with tonight’s Wolves-Suns play-by-play right here.

Star Tribune employees author Chris Hine is in Phoenix submitting stay stories earlier than, throughout and after Recreation 3 of the NBA Western Convention quarterfinal sequence between the Timberwolves and Suns at Footprint Heart. The Wolves had a 2-0 sequence lead getting into tonight’s recreation.

12:25 a.m.: Is the sequence over? Suns haven’t any reply for Timberwolves

PHOENIX – After two dominant video games at house, the query for the Timberwolves getting into Recreation 3 was if they may hold the identical effort on the street.

The Wolves answered that with a convincing sure as they defeated the Suns 126-109 on Friday evening to take a 3-0 lead with an opportunity to win their first playoff sequence since 2004 on Sunday evening in Recreation 4.

The Wolves led by six at halftime and once more used a methodical surge through which they floor the Suns to items within the third quarter, when followers started to boo the house group in Footprint Heart.

A number of Wolves danced round foul hassle all evening, however the Wolves had the depth to beat that.

Anthony Edwards was the rationale. He had a monster recreation and led them with 36 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Edwards bounced again from a foul taking pictures evening in Recreation 2 with a 12-for-23 efficiency. When the Wolves wanted it, Edwards was capable of finding his method to the basket and the free-throw line, particularly as Phoenix made a last-ditch run within the fourth quarter.

Edwards completed 11-for-11 on the foul line. The Suns had no reply for him any time he wished to get downhill and to the rim.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the decisive third-quarter with 4 threes, all in that quarter. He completed with 15 factors.

Karl-Anthony Cities added 18 factors for the Wolves. Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 28.

11:45 p.m.: Suns reeling as Wolves roll to 22-point lead after three

Nickeil Alexander-Walker as soon as once more made an impression on this sequence. After not scoring within the first half, Alexander-Walker went off within the third quarter for the Wolves, who lead the Suns 95-73 getting into the fourth after outscoring Phoenix 36-20 within the quarter.

Alexander-Walker buried 4 threes within the quarter and is as much as 12 factors and 5 assists on the sport. The Wolves protection held Phoenix to simply 20 factors within the quarter.

After Mike Conley discovered Naz Reid for a straightforward dunk close to the tip of the quarter, boos started to return down in Footprint Heart.

Alexander-Walker got here in for Jaden McDaniels after McDaniels picked up three fouls within the quarter and the Wolves had been forward 63-57. They gained the remainder of the quarter 32-16.

It was the third consecutive recreation the place the Wolves acquired a giant edge within the third quarter. Recreation 1 was 31-21 and Recreation 2 was 28-20.

10:52 p.m.: Wolves in good place on the half

The Wolves calmed down with their fouling within the second quarter and dedicated simply three fouls, they usually took a 59-53 lead over the Suns into halftime behind 16 factors from Anthony Edwards.

However one of many fouls they did commit went to Karl-Anthony Cities, who picked up his third. He completed the primary half with 13 minutes performed.

Rudy Gobert had 11 factors and eight rebounds.

Bol Bol, the 7-4 heart, performed some rotation minutes for the Suns for the primary time on this sequence because the Suns went with Bol and Jusuf Nurkic on the ground for a stretch within the second quarter.

The Wolves used their measurement benefit to seize a 14-5 edge in second-chance factors, which helped them overcome a 6-for-20 evening from three-point vary. In addition they maintain a 30-16 lead in paint factors.

10:25 p.m.: Wolves lead, however have 4 in foul hassle

Foul hassle plagued the Wolves early however they nonetheless led the Suns 34-32 after one.

4 gamers picked up two fouls because the Wolves dedicated 10 within the first quarter as Phoenix made a concerted effort to assault the rim.

The Wolves opened the sport 1-for-6 however then hit their subsequent 5 photographs to open up a 17-8 lead and power a Phoenix timeout. Karl-Anthony Cities completed with 10 first-quarter factors however he sat the previous few minutes of the quarter with two fouls. He joined Mike Conley, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert, who every picked up a pair of fouls.

Eric Gordon breathed some life right into a Suns group that started the evening 2-for-10 with 10 first-quarter factors. Phoenix shot simply 7-for-19 from the sphere however was 14-for-15 from the foul line.

Anthony Edwards had 12 to guide the Wolves

8 p.m.: Damage updates for key ‘questionable’ gamers

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated ahead Kyle Anderson is “good to go.” Anderson left Recreation 1 of the sequence on Saturday due to a hip pointer, and did not play in Recreation 2 Tuesday.

Suns guard Grayson Allen, who led the NBA in three-point proportion within the common season, left each of the primary two video games with a sprained ankle. Suns coach Frank Vogel stated Allen could be a game-time resolution, however Allen is unable to go and can sit out tonight.

Each gamers had been questionable on the harm report Thursday.

5 p.m., Shootaround replace: KAT lauds Rudy’s isolation protection

One of many keys for the Timberwolves within the first two video games of their NBA Western Convention quarterfinal sequence in opposition to the Suns has been their capacity to protect Phoenix in isolation one-on-one, and that features heart Rudy Gobert.

Gobert needed to battle the popularity that he’s a poor isolation defender within the playoffs ever since his Utah groups got here up quick previous to his coming to Minnesota. However the Suns have struggled to attain on Gobert, or any Wolves for that matter, once they have somebody switched onto them.

In the course of the common season, Gobert was spectacular sufficient to be a favourite for his fourth NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.

“All yr he is proven actually vivid spots of with the ability to guard guards on the three-point line and perimeter, and he makes use of his size and his ft,” Wolves large man Karl-Anthony Cities stated at shootaround Friday. “He is faster than individuals give him credit score for. So with the ability to use the God-given intangibles that he has is one thing that has helped him tremendously.

“He does so many issues defensively, however offensively as nicely. However to simply speak about protection, he does issues that does not present up on the stat sheet. So thank God we’re extra within the statistical period the place Synergy and stuff like that may assist us perceive the impression he makes on our group.”

It is also helped that the Wolves have had an efficient three-headed perimeter mixture that may guard straight up as nicely in Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaden McDaniels, who’re plus-40 of their minutes collectively this sequence.

“Another person can come within the recreation, brings that depth,” Gobert stated of his teammates. “It is robust once you face that. Clearly they’re very distinctive gamers and we’ve got a novel group however with the ability to, anyone get in foul hassle and there is one other man coming in bringing the identical sort of depth.”

Ahead Kyle Anderson (hip pointer) went via shootaround after being listed as questionable for tonight’s recreation.