Phoenix @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2019 ) Minnesota 106, Phoenix 111

The Minnesota Timberwolves are suffering through a three-game home losing streak and will only see the home fans on rare occasions over the next few weeks. The Timberwolves will try to give their fans something to cheer about on Saturday when they host the Phoenix Suns before taking off for six of the next seven and 10 of 14 on the road.

Minnesota had a chance to sweep a home-and-home set against a fellow Western Conference playoff hopeful after winning at Utah on Monday but could not find the offense in a 103-95 home setback on Wednesday. "We got sped up a little bit," Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders told reporters after the loss. "Kind of got us out of our plan with the pass. You can see, only having 13 assists. We didn't move the ball great tonight." Phoenix is mired in its first three-game losing streak of the season after failing to close out tight games against Sacramento and New Orleans. The Suns, who dropped a four-point decision at the Kings on Tuesday, allowed the Pelicans to shoot 53.4 percent from the field and could not get off a game-tying shot attempt in the final seconds of a 124-121 loss on Thursday.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE SUNS (7-7): Phoenix was missing starting point guard Ricky Rubio (back spasms) on Thursday but still managed to hand out 28 assists on 40 made field goals. On the receiving end of plenty of those assists was small forward Kelly Oubre Jr., who led the team with 25 points and is averaging 22.5 over the last four games. Shooting guard Devin Booker matched the team high with seven assists on Thursday but was held to 19 points, snapping a string of 11 straight games with at least 20 points.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (8-7): Minnesota swingman Andrew Wiggins (illness) returned from a three-game absence on Wednesday and collected 22 points and seven rebounds but was rusty with his shot like the rest of the team and went 1-of-10 from beyond the arc. The 24-year-old former No. 1 overall pick scored 30-plus points in four of five games before missing time and was a combined 7-of-12 from beyond the arc in his two previous contests. Star center Karl-Anthony Towns struggled on Wednesday as well, finishing with 14 points after scoring 20 or more in each of his previous eight games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves SF Jake Layman (toe) sat out Wednesday and was ruled out for Saturday.

2. Suns C Aron Baynes (hip) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.

3. The Timberwolves took two of the three meetings last season, including the lone matchup in Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 121, Suns 118