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NBA Gamethreads at Sonics Rising are back!
Tonight, the Phoenix Suns (20-13) hit the road to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (17-17). Here's what you need to know:
Time: 9:30 PM eastern, 6:30 PM pacific
Watch on: ESPN
Venue: The Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Probable Starters:
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| Goran Dragic | PG | Ricky Rubio |
| Gerald Green | SG | Kevin Martin |
| P.J. Tucker | SF | Cory Brewer |
| Channing Frye | PF | Kevin Love |
| Miles Plumlee | C | Nikola Pekovic |
Injuries: For the Suns, star point guard Eric Bledsoe is out with a knee injury, former Terp Alex Len is day-to-day with an ankle injury, and Emeka Okafor is also still out with a herniated disk. For the T-Pups, Chase Budinger is still sidelined after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee while Luc Richard Mbah a Mouté in questionable with a groin injury.
The last time these teams met: Ricky Rubio had a double-double (24 points, 10 assists) as the Wolves won at home last April, 105-93.
Story: The Timberwolves continue this first half of the season's tough schedule as they take on the Suns. The Timberwolves At 17-17, the Wolves have handled the tough schedule well so far and if they can get to February above .500 they will be in good shape to make a run at the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Suns are playing better than many expected and head coach Jeff Hornacek has this team over achieving and playing at a fast pace. Without Bledsoe though, they'll have a tough time defending both Rubio and Martin on the perimeter. The Suns may have a tough time defending in the paint as well with "The Buffet of Goodness" (Frye) having to defend either Love or Pekovic. The Suns three-game winning streak looks to be in danger tonight playing their second game of a back-to-back.
Stat you didn't know: The rebirth of Gerald Green has been special. Green has scored 20+ points eight times this season. In 2006-07, he had 15 such games. The Suns have won five straight games in which he scores 20+ points.
Prediction: The Suns put up a good fight in a high scoring affair, but the Timberwolves outlast the tired and banged up Suns.
Suns: 101; Timberwolves 114