Bradley Beal scored 36 points to lead the Phoenix Suns (49-33) to a 125-106 road win at the Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26) on Sunday.
In the NBA's final day of the regular season, Phoenix dominated the league's top-ranked defense Minnesota for the third consecutive time to sweep their season series. Phoenix's victory and the New Orleans Pelicans' Sunday loss to the Los Angeles Lakers bumped the Suns up from the Western Conference's No. 7 to 6 seed, which avoids the play-in tournament's 7-10 spots.
The Suns will face the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, which get underway Saturday. The series schedule had yet to be announced.
Besides Beal (14-of-21, 6-of-6 from the 3), his two other Big 3 cohorts Devin Booker (23 points, seven assists, one steal) and Kevin Durant (15 points, two steals, one block) put up solid numbers. In addition, the Suns' two other starters Grayson Allen (20 points, 8-of-11 FG, 3-of-3 from deep) shot the lights out and Jusuf Nurkic (six points, eight rebounds, five steals, one block) made huge stops in their team's highly efficient defensive effort.
The Suns shot 55.2% from the perimeter compared to the Timberwolves' 34.6%, Phoenix's largest lead was 24 and scored 35 off Minnesota's 24 turnovers, and Phoenix held a double-digit lead for 41 of the game's 48 minutes.
Minnesota's top player Anthony Edwards was held to just 13 points on just seven shot attempts, and Rudy Gobert had a team-high 21 points.
Playoff time:Suns blitz Timberwolves to earn sixth seed, will face again in first round of playoffs
Booker keeps Suns in front, T-wolves' Gobert rises in 3rd quarter
Devin Booker scored 11 of his 23 points in the third to help maintain Phoenix's 89-78 lead entering the final quarter.
The Suns have held a double-digit lead since 5:41 left in the first.
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards (13 points) was held to just one point in the third, but the Timberwolves' big Rudy Gobert was a problem for the Sun to defend in the middle. Gobert put up 15 of his 19 points in the third, and went 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
Big 3, Suns still ahead after Minnesota's late run in 2nd quarter
After Phoenix's season-high 44 points in the first quarter, the Suns had a balanced offensive attack, up 66-53 entering the half.
The Suns' Big 3 of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant have 18 points, 12, and 10. Grayson Allen had 12 thus far. The team's defense has been highly efficient, scoring 26 points off the Timberwolves' 19 turnovers. Phoenix's snared 10 steals among those takeaways.
There was a brief dustup between both teams that began around the three-minute mark from a heated exchange between Beal and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch as the Suns led 61-43.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (10 points) entered the fray against Beal, which resulted in a double technical foul on him and Beal. The Suns' Allen hit his second trey about a minute later. Then Minnesota went on a 9-0 run until 30 seconds left.
Beal's hot start, Suns defense drives big lead in 1st quarter
Bradley Beal (16 points, 6-of-7 shooting) hit four 3s and Phoenix came out hitting on all cylinders to push to a massive 44-22 lead to close the first quarter. The Suns shot 66.7%, and 8-of-11 from the 3.
Beal's fourth 3 came as the shot clock expired when Devin Booker desperately passed him the ball from half-court and was tightly guarded by Minnesota big Naz Reid during the period's closing seconds.
The Suns went on an 8-0 run within the period’s first 3:30 and had a 15-6 lead. Phoenix scored 17 points off the Timberwolves’ 11 turnovers, including 9-0 in fast break points mostly from those steals.
Starting lineups
The Suns are starting Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant at the three and four spots, and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.
The Timberwolves are opening with Mike Conley running the point, two-guard Anthony Edwards, forwards Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns, and center Rudy Gobert.
Update: T-wolves’ Edwards, Towns in, Gordon out
Phoenix has downgraded Eric Gordon (migraine) from questionable to inactive, and Drew Eubanks (ankle) has been upgraded to in. Minnesota’s top two scorers Anthony Edwards (illness) and Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) have been upgraded from questionable to available.
Injury reports: T-wolves stars Edwards, Towns questionable
Phoenix's backup center Drew Eubanks (right ankle soreness) is questionable, and shooting guard Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) remains out. Suns reserve guard Eric Gordon (migraine) will be a game-time decision, coach Frank Vogel said.
Minnesota's two All-Stars Anthony Edwards (illness) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left meniscus tear) are both questionable. Towns made his return from an 18-game absence in Minnesota's home win over Atlanta on Friday.
