The Phoenix Suns were stunned by the Minnesota Timberwolves’ dominating performance in Game 1 of their first-round matchup. After suffering a crushing 25-point defeat, the Suns are eager to redeem themselves in Game 2 before returning to their home court at Footprint Center in Arizona. However, their hopes have been hampered by the uncertain status of $70 million guard Grayson Allen, who is listed as questionable for the upcoming game due to a sprain in his right ankle.
In Game 1, the Suns were outplayed by Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves in all facets of the game. They shot poorly from the field as a team, with only Kevin Durant managing to perform adequately. Bradley Beal and Devin Booker failed to make an impact, leaving the Suns desperately lacking in support for their star players. Allen’s absence would further deplete Phoenix’s firepower, as he led the league in three-point percentage during the regular season.
Despite a disappointing 0-3 performance from the field in the series opener, the Suns were confident that Allen and their other stars would bounce back in Game 2. However, his availability is now in doubt, placing a greater burden on the Suns’ ‘Big Three’ to carry the team.
Ironically, Allen recently signed a four-year, $70 million extension with Phoenix just before the Timberwolves handed them a resounding defeat. When asked why he chose not to explore free agency, Allen stated, ‘I knew I wanted to be here, so that kinda outweighed the fact of trying to wonder what’s out there.’
In Game 1, the Suns shot 44% from the field compared to the Wolves’ 50%. Rebounding was also a concern, as the Wolves dominated with 52 total rebounds to the Suns’ meager 28. Phoenix will need to crash the boards more effectively or significantly improve their shooting percentages to compensate for Allen’s potential absence. However, it remains to be seen whether they can accomplish this without their sharpshooting guard.
