Sunday couldn’t have gone any worse for the Timberwolves.

They entered the day with an opportunity on the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention with a bit of assist, they usually had been at the least assured the No. 2 seed with a win. Additionally they had an opportunity to indicate that their first two conferences this season in opposition to the Phoenix Suns weren’t indicative of a foul matchup, that ought to they face the Suns within the playoffs, the Wolves may deal with them.

Then the Wolves went out and misplaced 125-106, a end result that dropped them to the No. 3 seed because of Denver and Oklahoma Metropolis each profitable, whereas their reward for the second-best common season in group historical past (56-26) is to face these similar Suns who’ve now waxed them 3 times this season.

Phoenix has led by double digits for your entire second half of every matchup. The Wolves started the evening with a disastrous 19 turnovers within the first half and by no means acquired nearer than 10 factors from there.

Anthony Edwards had solely 13 factors on seven shot makes an attempt to go along with 5 turnovers, whereas Karl-Anthony Cities had solely 10 factors on 3-for-8 taking pictures in his second recreation again from left meniscus surgical procedure. Cities’ gradual re-acclimation and the way helpless the Wolves have regarded in opposition to Phoenix have put doubt within the Wolves’ possibilities to maneuver previous the primary spherical of a playoff collection for the primary time since 2004. Even when the group was professing outward confidence after the sport.

“It is actually the assumption in ourselves that we had all yr,” mentioned guard Mike Conley, who scored 17 factors. “It has to stay out. We’re a group that we have not regarded throughout the courtroom and thought we’re not higher than one other group. I believe in each recreation, we really feel like we will beat that opponent, and that is no totally different.”

Last NBA regular-season standings

The Wolves regarded nowhere near competing with the Suns on Sunday after faltering to a 44-22 deficit within the first quarter because of 11 turnovers. Phoenix’s beginning lineup seems to current matchup issues for the Wolves, who had been utilizing Cities to protect Grayson Allen, who had 20 factors on 8-for-11 taking pictures.

“We have got loads to have a look at, for certain. Loads to get proper,” coach Chris Finch mentioned. “In order that’s good for us. Lots of issues we’ve to have a solution for once we get again out on the ground this week.”

Bradley Beal completed with 36 factors to guide the Suns, whereas Devin Booker had 23 and Kevin Durant added 15. Beal mentioned the Suns are studying nothing into their success in opposition to the Wolves this season.

“Which means nothing, actually,” Beal mentioned. “Yeah, we need to win each recreation within the common season we probably can, however that is nonetheless a great group over there. We will not simply take a look at the numbers or boxscores and suppose that we will come out and simply run by way of the collection.”

BOXSCORE: Phoenix 125, Wolves 106

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Cities tried to place as optimistic a face on Sunday’s debacle as he may by saying it was really a great factor the Wolves had been taking part in the opponent that they had essentially the most problem with all season within the first spherical.

“It is going to make us higher,” Cities mentioned. “It is going to take a look at our psychological fortitude, and it should take a look at our self-discipline. These are going to be issues that, if we get previous Spherical 1, we will want these forms of issues if we count on to be a championship group.”

There’s loads to determine for Recreation 1, which takes place Saturday at Goal Middle. Other than the defensive matchups, can the Wolves play Cities a full complement of minutes within the postseason? Can they get Edwards reignited in opposition to a Phoenix group that continuously doubles him and has held him to 14.3 factors per recreation this season?

“They gained three video games within the common season. Common season over with now,” Edwards mentioned. “We acquired the postseason, so we’ll be able to go.”

They did not appear like it Sunday.

Sunburned

The Timberwolves earned the No. 3 seed within the Western Convention and face Phoenix in a playoff collection, with Recreation 1 beginning Saturday. However the Suns, on the power of quick begins, swept the three-game regular-season collection.

Suns 133, Wolves 115 (Nov. 15): Wolves stored tempo for a lot of the first quarter however trailed 76-54 on the half.

Suns 97, Wolves 87 (April 5): Phoenix led 32-20 after the primary. Grayson Allen scored 23 factors, Kevin Durant 22.

Suns 125, Wolves 106 (Sunday): Suns dominated in the beginning, main 44-22 after one quarter.