5 takeaways from Suns road escape over T-Wolves for 9th-straight win; Deandre Ayton returns
MINNEAPOLIS — It wasn't pretty.
It was actually pretty ugly for sizeable stretches, but the Phoenix Suns found a way to pull out a 99-96 thriller over Minnesota in stretching their season-long winning streak to nine games in Deandre Ayton's return from an right leg contusion.
Devin Booker scored a team-high 29, Ayton posted a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Chris Paul scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in leading Phoenix to tying the longest winning streak ever under Williams, regular season or postseason.
Suns won nine in a row in last season's playoffs.
"Make sure y'all bring that same energy y'all was bringing last game cause dont try to take the L when I'm back now.
Deandre Ayton as he posted a double-double of 22 and 12 in Monday's win at T-Wolves to give #Suns nine straight victories. pic.twitter.com/Z29UvIlBAJ— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2021
This season's squad matched that, but survived a defensive miscommunication that left D'Angelo Russell for an open 3 he missed with the Suns up two with 5.6 seconds left.
Then Anthony Edwards turned the ball over with 1.4 seconds left and proceeded to foul Jae Crowder, who went 1-of-2 from the line to make the difference three.
Without any timeouts, Malik Beasley was left to heave a shot from 74 feet that fell way short at the horn for the T-Wolves (4-9).
Here are five takeaways from Monday's game as Phoenix (10-3) begins a three-game homestand Wednesday against Dallas.
Russell missed 3. #Suns win by 3. pic.twitter.com/U5go1dIUDP
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2021
1. Ayton's return was filled with buckets, bouts with fatigue and a battle with Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored a game-high 35 points on his 26th birthday.
Welcome back.
Ayton finished with a double-double for his fourth consecutive one of the season. He was active at moments, but was gassed at times.
His last game was 11 days ago.
However, there were times he was open and didn't get the ball.
Then in the fourth, Ayton was guarded by the gritty, but much shorter Patrick Beverley in the post and didn't call for the ball.
Seemed to be pointing for the ball to swing up top for a straight line entry pass, but when a guy is that small on you, just get the ball and go to work.
Paul ended up taking a tough fader and missed.
However, Ayton ended up putting the Suns up for good on an inside basket with 1:13 left in the game after giving up 3s to Towns earlier in the fourth.
A crazy night for Ayton ends in a wild victory.
"That could be 3 now DA." Deandre Ayton on his final bucket to put #Suns up for good as he said the ref told him he could call him for three seconds. pic.twitter.com/PR2bA5VA9Y
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2021
2. Booker wasn't making shots. Finished 7-of-16 from the field.
He was getting knocked to the floor, too.
Rough night from a physicality standpoint, but he battled through and got to the line (13-of-15). Booker also hit some huge shots down the stretch including a jumper to give Phoenix a 95-92 lead with 46.8 seconds left.
As Minnesota called a timeout, Booker ran to the opposite side of the court while nodding his head before returning to the Suns bench.
He gutted this one out against his friends, Russell and Towns.
"I didn't want to see the ice in the veins tonight." Devin Booker on D'Angelo Russell missing that open 3 late that would've put T-Wolves up one. #Suns win by 3.
Wait for reaction to hearing Chris Paul scoring 19 in 4th and talk about flexing to get back at Karl-Anthony Towns. pic.twitter.com/OX3leFcsOU— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2021
3. Suns got key contributions from Landry Shamet, but the bench didn't produce as it has in the past.
JaVale McGee, back as a reserve, had just two points on three shot attempts, but Williams did give Frank Kaminsky a shot to start the second quarter.
The man who went for a career-high 31 last week against Portland, had only 3 as he took just two shots.
Williams has to re-establish the rotations to get everyone back to their comfort level.
Monty Williams breaking down difference between young team and one with veterans as that was the deciding factor in tonight's game #Suns won over T-Wolves. pic.twitter.com/SzmdjyK1fU
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2021
4. Williams noted that this is the third straight game Phoenix has limited an opponent to 23 or fewer points for three quarters.
So, the defense continues to trend upward, but Minnesota sure did help the Suns out.
The T-Wolves took bad and contested shots all night, and not taking what the defense was giving. Very talented, but just young and don't know how to finish games.
The Suns do, and that was the difference.
"Chris Paul plays with a chip.
He gets mad and upset, but also knows it's all about winning the game.
Paul breaks that down as he scored 19 of his 21 in the 4th of #Suns 99-96 win over T-Wolves to make it nine straight wins for Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/lwOR9hvnLb— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2021
5. Neither team could hit from 3.
The T-Wolves went 13-of-44 while the Suns shot 7-of-31, but one of those makes, a bouncer that dropped for Paul, seemed to take the lid off the rim for him.
He took over from there.
Paul entered the fourth quarter 1-of-7 for two points. He shot 5-of-7 in the fourth and made all seven of his free throws for the game.
He seems to take issue with most things on the court whether it's fouls or getting his team straight, but Paul has the ability to channel whatever frustration he's feeling and compete.
And most of the time, win.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 takeaways from Suns road escape over Timberwolves for 9th-straight win