GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (16-4) at MINNESOTA (2-15)

NBA: PHOENIX (16-4) at MINNESOTA (2-15)

<h3>Suns aim to continue offense explosion vs. Timberwolves</h3>

<div class="pre">Phoenix (15-4) at Minnesota (2-15) 8:00 pm EST</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Given their incredible shooting andunselfishness, it sometimes appears that the Phoenix Suns canscore at will.


The Suns look to continue their incredible offensive display onSaturday when they try to conclude a perfect five-game road tripagainst the Minnesota Timberwolves.


Phoenix used an NBA season-high 42 assists on a season-high 50baskets in Friday's 122-107 road win against the WashingtonWizards to notch its fourth road win in six days.


Over that stretch, the Suns - who are 10-2 on the road thisseason - have scored at least 115 points in each game and, forthe season, the team is averaging an league-best 110.5 pointsper game.


On the other hand, Minnesota owns the worst record in the NBAand its active five-game losing streak is already the third suchstreak the team has experienced this season.


The Timberwolves lost in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday,90-89, coming back from a 19-point first-quarter deficit to takethe lead late before suffering their 22nd loss in 24 games whenAtlanta's Joe Johnson hit a jumper as time expired.

Rookie Corey Brewer, who had made just two starts prior toThursday, pulled down 18 rebounds in his third start of theseason. Marko Jaric returned from a two-game absence and added18 points, nine assists and eight boards off the bench.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">PHOENIX VS MINNESOTA - INACTIVES

PHOENIX MINNESOTA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A TUCKER COACH'S DECISION T RATLIFF RIGHT KNEE INJURY
G BUCKNER COACH'S DECISION
R FOYE LEFT KNEE INJURY</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">PHOENIX AT MINNESOTA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PHOENIX MINNESOTA

F Grant Hill F Craig Smith
F Shawn Marion F Corey Brewer
C Amare Stoudemire C Al Jefferson
G Steve Nash G Marko Jaric
G Raja Bell G Sebastian Telfair

OFFICIALS: Monty McCutchen
Ken Mauer
Orlandis Poole</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 8
MINNESOTA 6 9:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 12
MINNESOTA 14 6:07 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 22
MINNESOTA 22 2:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 32
MINNESOTA 28 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 32 32
MINNESOTA 28 28 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 9, SHAWN MARION 8, AMARE
STOUDEMIRE 6
MIN - CRAIG SMITH 12, AL JEFFERSON 10, COREY
BREWER 2</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 38
MINNESOTA 41 7:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 43
MINNESOTA 41 5:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 51
MINNESOTA 47 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 56
MINNESOTA 55 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 32 24 56
MINNESOTA 28 27 55 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 16, SHAWN MARION 10,
AMARE STOUDEMIRE 8
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 18, CRAIG SMITH 14,
SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 8</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 63
MINNESOTA 61 8:56 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 71
MINNESOTA 73 5:58 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 76
MINNESOTA 77 2:48 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 80
MINNESOTA 87 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 32 24 24 80
MINNESOTA 28 27 32 87 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 17, SHAWN MARION 16,
AMARE STOUDEMIRE 15
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 24, MARKO JARIC 16, CRAIG
SMITH 14</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 84
MINNESOTA 91 8:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 89
MINNESOTA 93 6:22 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>