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Morris and Suns dominate T'Wolves

Apr 10, 2012 - 6:29 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Markieff Morris led five players in double figures with 21 points and six rebounds as the Phoenix Suns routed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-90, at Target Center on Monday.

Shannon Brown finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, Steve Nash added 14 points and five assists, Sebastian Telfair donated 14 points and seven assists, and Michael Redd rounded out the double-figure scorers in the Suns' fifth win in their last six games with 13 points.

"I thought Markieff (Morris) had his best game, as far as activity and rebounding the basketball and making plays" Phoenix head coach Alvin Gentry said.

Kevin Love poured in a game-high 25 points and ripped down 13 rebounds, while J.J. Barea added 16 points and five assists for the Timberwolves, who have lost six consecutive games. Michael Beasley contributed 12 points and Nikola Pekovic donated 11 in the loss.

"We have to find a way to get energy and draw from each other, and we're not doing it," Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman said.

After a closely-played first quarter which featured a pair of lead changes and three ties, the Suns held a 21-18 advantage.

Leading by one, 24-23, early in the second quarter, the Suns pulled away with a 26-12 run over the next seven-plus minutes of action to extend the lead to 15, 50-35, with just over three minutes to play before halftime.

The T'Wolves fought back in the latter stages of the second quarter with a 10-3 flurry to cut the deficit to eight, 53-45, at the break.

Barea sank a driving reverse layup 3 1/2 minutes into the third stanza to cut the deficit to five, but the Suns blew Minnesota out of the water the rest of the quarter, using a 21-4 run to take a commanding 77-55 lead with just under five minutes to go in the frame.

Phoenix led 83-68 after three quarters of play.

It was all Suns in the final quarter, as they outscored Minnesota 31-22 in the final frame and the lead topped out at 27 on two occasions as Phoenix rolled to an easy win.

Game Notes

Phoenix shot an efficient 57.3 percent from the floor and made 13-of-16 from the free throw line, while Minnesota shot just 38.6 percent from the floor and 6-of-22 from three-point range...Phoenix outrebounded the T'Wolves 40-37...Timberwolves forward Darko Milicic did not dress due to a strained right hamstring.