Tip-off: Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: N/A, Total: N/A

The Suns look to end their recent struggles Friday with a win over the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

The Suns really struggled as they entered the All-Star break, losing five of their past six games. They most recently faced the Rockets in Phoenix and lost 127-118 as 2-point favorites. They are just 3-7 ATS in their past 10 games as well, but they have an excellent chance to turn things around with a win over the Timberwolves. Minnesota lost two straight heading into the break, losing 94-91 as a 9-point home underdog versus the Warriors in its most recent game. The Timberwolves had, however, won three straight before those two losses and they are 4-2 ATS in their past six games. Phoenix and Minnesota most recently met at US Airways Center, when the Suns won 110-99 as 14-point home favorites. The Suns also won 113-11 as 8-point underdogs in Minnesota earlier in the season. They’ve won three straight games against the Timberwolves in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are, however, 6-2 ATS in the past eight games played in this head-to-head series. The Suns have played well as a road favorite this season, going 11-3 SU and 8-5-1 ATS. Minnesota, meanwhile, is just 6-16 SU after an ATS win but it is 11-10-1 ATS in those games. The team is also 3-2 ATS when playing on three or more day’s rest on the season. SG Gary Neal (Acquired in trade) is questionable for the Timberwolves and PF Robbie Hummel (hand) is out for the team. C Alex Len (Ankle) is doubtful for the Suns.

The Suns are in a tight race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference and they need to turn things around immediately or they will find themselves watching the postseason on their televisions once again. PG Eric Bledsoe (17.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 SPG) had one of his best games of the season in a loss to the Rockets last game. He played 40 minutes in the loss and finished with 32 points (9-for-19 FG, 2-for-4 3PT, 12-for-13 FT), four rebounds, four assists and two steals. He’ll need to continue to use his speed and strength to get to the line for easy points. Bledsoe has, however, struggled against Minnesota this season with just 16.5 PPG (38% FG) and 1.5 APG in 30.0 MPG in two meetings with the team. He’ll need to be more effective this time around. PG Isaiah Thomas (15.2 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG) has seen a major increase in minutes lately, averaging 20.0 PPG, 5.5 APG and 1.5 SPG in 34.5 MPG in the two games before the break. Thomas is averaging just 11.5 PPG in two games against the Timberwolves this season and he’ll need to find a way to use his speed to get into the lanes in this game. Phoenix needs him to add some serious scoring punch in order to pick up a huge road victory. PF Markieff Morris (15.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG) was excellent against the Rockets last game, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal in 33 minutes of action. Morris will need to knock down some outside shots to stretch out the Minnesota defense and allow his guards to attack the rim. With C Alex Len (6.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG) likely out for Phoenix, C Miles Plumlee (4.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.0 BPG) should see some big minutes in this one. Plumlee has been an animal the past two games, averaging 4.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 4.0 BPG in 2.0 MPG. He’s playing very well defensively, but he’ll need to find a way to make some shots at the rim or Jeff Hornacek may opt to replace him with somebody who can.

The Timberwolves lost two straight games heading into the break, but the team has actually been performing a lot better recently. PG Ricky Rubio (10.8 PPG, 7.8 APG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG) played extremely well in a loss to the Warriors last game, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. He should thrive against a Suns team that loves to play an up-tempo brand of basketball. SG Andrew Wiggins (15.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG) will also be amped and ready to play this game, as he’s averaging 21.0 PPG (58% FG), 4.5 RPG and 2.0 SPG in 37.5 MPG versus the Suns this season. Wiggins is an excellent player in transition and he should be able to use his size to bully the smaller Phoenix guards in the post as well. This is the perfect matchup for him and Minnesota will need its young superstar to perform at a high level in order to earn this victory. SG Shabazz Muhammad (13.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG) should be fully recovered from a strained oblique after having the All-Star break to get healthy. Muhammad was moving well in the Rising Stars game and it’s likely that his minute restriction will be lifted for this one. He had 12 points, five rebounds, five assists in 33 minutes the last time he faced Phoenix and he should be able to be more successful as a scorer this time around. C Gorgui Dieng (9.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.7 BPG) has played well against the Suns this season, averaging 10.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.0 APG and 1.5 BPG in 35.5 MPG but his minutes have decreased since C Nikola Pekovic (13.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG) returned. Pekovic is averaging 17.2 PPG and 6.2 RPG in 26.8 MPG over his past five contests. Regardless of who is getting the big minutes at center, the Timberwolves should have a major advantage at the position over the Suns. Both guys will need to attack Mile Plumlee when they are in, as he is very likely to commit fouls.