Minnesota Timberwolves (24-24, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (38-9, first in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Friday, 9 p.m. EST
LINE: Suns -9.5; over/under is 231.5
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix takes on the Minnesota Timberwolves after Devin Booker scored 43 points in the Phoenix Suns' 105-97 win over the Utah Jazz.
The Suns are 24-7 in Western Conference games. Phoenix ranks sixth in the league with 46.0 rebounds led by JaVale McGee averaging 7.1.
The Timberwolves are 17-16 in Western Conference play. Minnesota is sixth in the league scoring 13.9 fast break points per game led by Anthony Edwards averaging 4.0.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Suns won the last matchup 99-96 on Nov. 16, with Booker scoring 29 points points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Booker averages 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Suns, scoring 25.0 points while shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc. Chris Paul is shooting 51.2% and averaging 16.1 points over the past 10 games for Phoenix.
Karl-Anthony Towns is scoring 24.3 points per game with 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 24.3 points and 3.7 assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 9-1, averaging 111.5 points, 47.0 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.6 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 122.2 points, 43.6 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Abdel Nader: out (knee), Dario Saric: out (knee), Frank Kaminsky: out (knee), JaVale McGee: day to day (knee), Cameron Payne: day to day (wrist), Jae Crowder: day to day (wrist), Deandre Ayton: out (ankle).
Timberwolves: Patrick Beverley: out (ankle).
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