Timberwolves achieve a 4-game season sweep over the Suns with a score of 124-109.

AP News

Julius Randle put up 25 points, and Anthony Edwards contributed 20, despite sitting out the second quarter due to an injury, as the Minnesota Timberwolves triumphed over the Phoenix Suns 124-109 on Friday night. This victory marked the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive win against the Suns this season, extending their winning streak against Phoenix to seven games, including last year's playoffs.

Edwards sustained an injury when he was struck in the face by Kevin Durant with 2:43 left in the first quarter while trying to intercept a pass. Durant's arm inadvertently caught Edwards in the nose, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. He remained down for a minute before being taken to the locker room.

Durant led the Suns with 23 points, while Collin Gillespie had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 22 points and dishing out nine assists. The Suns have now lost two consecutive games after a four-game winning streak, and Bradley Beal missed his sixth straight game due to a left hamstring injury.

Gillespie's scoring surge was unexpected for Phoenix, as he had only reached double digits twice this season, averaging just 4.0 points. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves managed to maintain a comfortable lead even without Edwards for a significant portion of the game, going into halftime with a 12-point advantage, thanks to contributions from Randle, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels.

The incident involving Durant and Edwards raised concerns among Timberwolves fans, as their star player did not return until after halftime. Upon re-entering the game, he was greeted with a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Devin Booker, the Suns’ second-leading scorer, struggled, finishing with just 10 points, which tied his season low. He didn't score until there were only 3:33 left in the third quarter, missing his first eight shots overall and the first five from beyond the arc.

Both teams are set to play again on Sunday, with Phoenix hosting Houston and Minnesota welcoming Detroit.