The Minnesota Timberwolves (15-8) welcomes the Phoenix Suns (13-10) to Target Center riding a scorching five-game winning streak, including gritty road victories over New Orleans and a home thriller against the Clippers on Saturday. Minnesota, third in the Northwest Division with a +5.3 net rating (6th in NBA), boasts elite defense (115.0 Opp PPG, 10th) and balanced scoring led by Anthony Edwards’ 28.1 PPG. The Suns, slipping to seventh in the West after a 98-117 thud in Houston on Friday, limp in depleted: Devin Booker and Jalen Green sidelined, Dillon Brooks questionable. Phoenix’s offense (116.2 PPG, 19th) sputters without stars (down to 108.4 PPG in last three), but Kevin Durant’s 25.0 PPG anchors a resilient squad eyeing an upset in this Northwest-Pacific clash. The Wolves seek a sixth straight win to solidify playoff positioning, while the Suns chase their first road victory since November 28.
Game Details
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (capacity: 18,798)
Broadcast: Peacock, FanDuel Sports Network North (Timberwolves), AZFamily (Suns), NBA League Pass
This primetime tilt opens Monday’s light slate, with Minnesota extending a nine-game homestand (7-2 at Target Center) and Phoenix wrapping a three-game road trip (1-1 entering). The Wolves’ raucous fans have witnessed 118.2 PPG in home wins, amplifying the decibel-driven atmosphere.
Injury Report
Phoenix’s backcourt is ravaged, dropping their offensive rating to 102.1 without Booker/Green, forcing Durant into 38+ minutes. Minnesota enters fully healthy, a luxury amid their streak.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Estimated Return | Notes |
| Phoenix Suns | Devin Booker | SG | Out | Groin (Right Strain) | December 10 | Leading scorer (25.0 PPG, 6.7 APG); missed last two—major playmaking void. |
| Phoenix Suns | Jalen Green | SG | Out | Hamstring (Right Strain) | December 18 | 15.5 PPG off bench; re-evaluation soon, but extended absence hampers spacing. |
| Phoenix Suns | Isaiah Livers | SF | Out | Hip (Right Strain) | December 10 | Two-way contributor (limited minutes); depth hit in rotation. |
| Phoenix Suns | Dillon Brooks | SF | Day-to-Day (Questionable) | Achilles (Left Soreness) | December 8 | 22.3 PPG, 1.6 SPG; 23P Friday—full practice, likely plays limited (25-28 min). |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | None | – | – | – | – | Clean bill; two-ways Enrique Freeman/Rocco Zikarsky on G League assignment—no impact. |
Impact: Suns’ absences (45 man-games lost) cripple perimeter creation (25.4 APG drops 15%); Brooks’s status pivotal for defense vs. Edwards. Wolves’ full strength enables Gobert (13.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG) to feast inside.
Key Player Matchups
With Phoenix shorthanded, Minnesota’s length exploits mismatches—focus on Edwards’s isolation vs. Suns’ thin wings and Randle’s versatility against Durant’s iso-heavy game. Wolves’ 38.9% 3PT% tests Phoenix’s 36.4% Opp 3PT%.
Kevin Durant (PHX, SF) vs. Julius Randle (MIN, PF): Durant (25.0 PPG, 45.7% FG) shoulders load sans Booker (38 MPG lately); Randle (23.0 PPG, 5.9 APG) thrives in PnR (team-high +7.3 net). Durant’s pull-ups vs. Randle’s switchability. Edge: Randle—timely scoring in streak.
Anthony Edwards (MIN, SG) vs. Grayson Allen (PHX, SG): Edwards (28.1 PPG, 41.6% 3PT) erupts (44P Dec 2); Allen (17.3 PPG, 1.6 SPG) guards point-of-attack but undersized (6’4″). Edwards’s athleticism overwhelms. Edge: Edwards—streak heater (32P avg. L5).
Bradley Beal (PHX, SG) vs. Jaden McDaniels (MIN, SF): Beal (stepping up: 20+ PPG projected sans Booker) creates off-ball; McDaniels (16.0 PPG, elite D: 1.2 SPG) clamps wings (+6.2 net). McDaniels’s length disrupts. Edge: McDaniels—defensive anchor.
Nick Richards (PHX, C) vs. Rudy Gobert (MIN, C): Richards fills Nurkic void (12.0 RPG); Gobert (13.7 PPG, 2.5 BPG) dominates paint (team-high +9.1 net). Gobert’s rim protection (5.1 team BPG) stifles. Edge: Gobert—rebound machine.
Projected Lineups (Subject to change):
Suns: Beal-Durant-Allen-Richards-Nurkic (if active) | Brooks-O’Neale-Gillespie-Bouyea-Len
Timberwolves: Conley-Edwards-McDaniels-Randle-Gobert | Reid-Shannon-Ingles-Towns (bench)-Miller
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Record | Points Diff. | Off. Rtg | Def. Rtg | Home/Away | Division Rank |
| Phoenix Suns | 13-10 | +2.4 | 112.5 (18th) | 110.1 (9th) | 7-5 Home / 6-5 Away | 7th Pacific |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 15-8 | +5.3 | 118.2 (7th) | 113.0 (12th) | 7-2 Home / 8-6 Away | 3rd Northwest |
Suns rank 19th in PPG (116.2), 22nd RPG (42.5); Wolves 7th PPG (120.3), 5th BPG (5.1), elite 3PT% (38.9%).
Recent Team Forms
Minnesota’s streak features third-quarter surges (32.4 PPG), while Phoenix’s losses expose turnover woes (15.2 TOPG).
Suns Last 5 Games (2-3):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 5 | @ HOU | L 98-117 | Brooks 23P; 13/36 3PT, 19 TO. |
| Dec. 1 | @ LAL | W 125-108 | Durant 28P-10R; 14/30 3PT clinic. |
| Nov. 30 | vs. MIN | W 114-113 | Beal GWG; narrow H2H win. |
| Nov. 28 | @ SAC | W 117-112 | Allen 19P; clutch road. |
| Nov. 26 | vs. DEN | L 105-118 | Durant 24P; defensive lapses. |
Timberwolves Last 5 Games (5-0):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 6 | vs. LAC | W 109-106 | McDaniels 27P; Reid GW 3PT. |
| Dec. 4 | @ NOP | W 125-116 | Randle 28P-6A; 15/38 3PT. |
| Dec. 2 | @ NOP | W 149-142 (OT) | Edwards 44P; OT thriller. |
| Nov. 30 | vs. SAS | W 125-112 | Edwards 32P; dominant home. |
| Nov. 29 | vs. BOS | W 119-115 | Team D: 4 TO forced. |
Suns 6-4 L10 (+1.2 net); Wolves 8-2 L10 (+8.4 net).
Series History
These franchises have clashed 132 times (regular season), with Phoenix holding an 84-48 edge (63.6% win rate), outscoring Minnesota 14,562-13,248 all-time. Suns lead at home (45-20) but Wolves own Target Center (28-28). Recent: Phoenix 3-2 L5, including 114-113 on Nov. 30, 2025 (Beal heroics). Average: 224.8 points/game; Suns 4-1 ATS L5 H2H. No playoff history.
Betting Trends
Spread: Timberwolves -9.5 to -10 (-110); Suns +9.5 to +10 (-110) – PHX covers 60% as road dogs.
Total (O/U): 227.5 (Over -110; Under -110) – Over 6-4 in Wolves’ L10; Suns 5-5 O/U L10.
Trends: Wolves 4-1 SU L5 but 2-3 ATS; Suns 15-8 ATS overall, 1-3 as +9.5 dogs. H2H Over 7-3 L10.
Game Odds
Phoenix Suns 223.5
Minnesota Timberwolves – 10.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 7, 2025
