PHOENIX — Devin Booker stood with the rest of his Phoenix Suns teammates as the final seconds ticked here Friday night. But before Game 3 went final, the Suns guard turned and ducked through an arena exit behind the Phoenix bench. A quick getaway.
That’s OK. Hundreds of fans left early too.
Confirmation hit hard for this team Friday night. Don’t misunderstand: Phoenix’s first two losses in this Western Conference first-round series did not make anyone think the Suns had a major reversal in them. Not with how they had played. But those setbacks had come on the road in Minnesota. Game 3 in the desert would show for sure just how much fire the Suns had.
As it turns out, just a flicker.
If that.
Third-seeded Minnesota wore down sixth-seeded Phoenix, never trailing in a 126-109 win that gave the Timberwolves a commanding 3-0 series lead. Game 4 is Sunday, and it might offer a final chance for the Suns to show the pride they have lacked for most of this series. Or that they can at least fight for 48 minutes. That’s the interesting part.
The Suns have battled Minnesota, staying competitive through the first half in all three postseason games, yet something happens in the second half. One team is ready, the other is not.
‘Third quarter kicking our ass, ain’t it?” Suns guard Bradley Beal said.
For the series, Minnesota is plus-34 in the third. In Game 3, the Timberwolves outscored Phoenix 36-20, hitting shots, making stops and sucking the excitement from a home crowd that had arrived at Footprint Center ready to explode. Instead, as the Suns walked to the bench at the end of the third quarter, many booed.
“Rightfully so,” Booker said.
Give the Suns credit in that respect. At least they understand that they have been outclassed. Minnesota is the better basketball team — there’s no questioning this — but Phoenix shouldn’t be in this position. Even with a flawed roster that has no true point guard and limited depth, the Suns should be more competitive. Instead, Minnesota has posted wins of 25, 12 and 17 points. This has been a landslide, with every contest decided during a similar stretch.
Asked if he could explain Phoenix’s third-quarter woes, Booker said simply, “No, I cannot.”
Kevin Durant’s attempt: “We’re playing in spurts, man. Just like we’ve been doing all season. Good couple minutes, bad couple minutes. And in the playoffs, you can’t have that.”
Phoenix trailed 59-53 at halftime. To start the third quarter, Durant missed a 13-footer. Royce O’Neale missed a 3. Jusuf Nurkić committed a turnover. Just like that, Minnesota led by 10. By the time Naz Reid dunked nine minutes later, the margin had swelled to 22. The Suns pulled to within 12 in the fourth quarter but could get no closer.
The Suns’ third-quarter woes have defined the series. A six-point deficit Friday at halftime ballooned to 22 by the end of the third. (Joe Camporeale / USA Today)
“Guys were competing, but they were being outplayed,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said, adding that Phoenix had made defensive adjustments, switching up coverages, mixing in zone, all to no avail. “Part of it is they’re making shots and we weren’t. That slows your momentum down.”
The Suns haven’t lost three in a row since December. They haven’t lost three in a row by double digits since December 2022. They look overwhelmed and shell-shocked. It’s not like this has been an Anthony Edwards postseason coming-out party. A young star finally breaking through. Edwards has been great — he scored 36 on Friday — but the Timberwolves have gotten significant contributions from nearly everyone.
In Game 2, Jaden McDaniels had a breakout game, scoring 25 points. In Game 3, Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit four 3s and scored 16 off the bench. Overall, five of Minnesota’s top seven players are scoring above their season averages in this series. Only Reid and Karl-Anthony Towns are not. For Phoenix, it’s the opposite. Of its top seven players, only Beal is scoring above his season average. The Timberwolves are meeting the moment, the Suns are running from it.
“We put ourselves in a hole, we got to dig out of it,” Booker said.
They insist they’ll keep fighting. “I’ve never been swept a day in my life,” said Beal, who led Phoenix with 28 points. “I’ll be damned if that happens.” But they understand extending this series will not be easy.
“It’s an opportunity for us to do something that’s never been done before. We’re going to embrace that,” Vogel said of rallying from an 0-3 deficit. “You’re playing for pride and you’re playing for an opportunity to keep fighting. That’s what this group wants.”
At times, it’s hard to tell.
GO DEEPER
The Timberwolves are tired of being the NBA’s punching bag — it’s time to take notice
(Photo of Devin Booker during the second half of Friday’s Game 3: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
