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Suns eye season series victory over Timberwolves

Apr 11, 2009 - 4:32 AM By Jeff Mezydlo Stats Senior Writer

Phoenix (43-36) at Minnesota (24-55), 8:00 p.m. EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns have three games left in their season, but based on their latest effort they seem ready for it to end sooner.

Set to miss the playoffs for the first time in five years, the visiting Suns look to bounce back and win the season series from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

Ninth in the Western Conference, Phoenix (43-36) was eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday when Dallas beat Utah to clinch the final playoff spot.

Playing in their first game since then, the Suns lacked effort Friday in a 106-89 loss at Memphis to snap their 10-game winning streak over the lowly Grizzlies. Jason Richardson and reserve Louis Amundson each had 13 points for Phoenix, which committed 22 turnovers.

"We were a little bit careless with the ball, and we have to learn from that," Richardson said. "Right now, the most important thing is to get these young guys to play and get ready for next year."

The Suns, who posted their lowest-scoring effort since Alvin Gentry took over as interim coach Feb. 16, have lost five of eight since a six-game winning streak.

With home dates against Memphis and Golden State following this contest, the Suns have a favorable finishing stretch, but they'll have to play with more enthusiasm than they did Friday.

"These games really aren't meaning anything for us," said Richardson, who is averaging 25.2 points in his last five games versus Minnesota. "Even though we want to win them, just let (the reserves) go out and get some minutes."

Phoenix and Minnesota (24-55) split their previous two games this season with the road team winning each time.

Steve Nash had 20 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 18 with 10 rebounds in the Suns' 110-102 win at Minnesota on Nov. 26. O'Neal and Leandro Barbosa each had 22 points in their 105-103 loss at home to the Timberwolves on Jan. 16.

O'Neal is averaging 26.5 points in 43 career games against Minnesota.

Minnesota forward Kevin Love has 19 rebounds in the two games against Phoenix.

A leading candidate for rookie of the year, Love posted his 27th double-double and 18th in 32 games after recording 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Timberwolves' 105-97 win at Golden State on Wednesday.

Averaging 11.2 points and 9.1 boards, Love is two rebounds shy of breaking Christian Laettner's single-season rookie club record of 708.

"He's just going to get better and better," Minnesota coach Kevin McHale said of Love, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. "He's just a puppy and he's still figuring out what to do out there a little bit, but with good, hard work ... his game will improve."

Sebastian Telfair added 21 points Wednesday for the Timberwolves, who have won two in a row and four of six since losing seven consecutive contests.

"At some point we're going to turn this thing around," Telfair said. "Unfortunately it hasn't happened yet, but it's coming."

Minnesota has not won a season series with Phoenix since 2003-04, when it won all four meetings.