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With Love expected back after missing one game with flu-like symptoms, the visiting Timberwolves close out a back-to-back-to-back set on Thursday night when the well-rested Suns go for their ninth consecutive victory in this series.

Already with one more victory than last season, the Timberwolves (18-18) are just one game behind eighth-place Denver in the Western Conference standings. There is real optimism among this group that it can help the team make its first postseason appearance since 2003-04, yet the health of the Timberwolves' best player could determine if that happens.

Love, who is averaging 24.5 points with 13.8 rebounds, had 23 points and 16 boards in a 128-122 loss in Phoenix on Dec. 15, 2010. However, he missed the last two matchups against the Suns in 2010-11 with a strained left groin.

2011-12 REGULAR SEASON QUICKNOTES
OVERALL TEAM QUICKNOTES
 The Suns have won TWO of their last THREE games.
 Phoenix has scored 100 or more in THREE-straight games for the FIRST time this season.
 Tonight’s game is the Suns’ FOURTH of SIX consecutive home games (three before the All-Star break, three after).
 Phoenix plays SEVEN of its first NINE games in the month of March at US Airways Center.
 Phoenix has played 14 of its last 22 games away from US Airways Center.
 Phoenix played 13 pre-All-Star games in the month of February, the most of any NBA team.
 The Suns owned SEVEN wins in the month of February, surpassing their win total for all of January (6-10).
 Phoenix is 7-7 (.500) in its last 14 games after winning SEVEN of their first 20 games this season.
 The Suns are 6-6 (.500) in their last 12 games, 7-7 (.500) in their last 14, and 8-8 (.500) in their last 16 games overall.
 SIXTEEN of the Suns’ last 23 games have come as part of a back-to-back set.
 The Suns are 3-6 (.333) in the first game of a back-to-back this season (Dec. 30, Jan. 12, Jan. 17, Jan. 23, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 19), 5-4
(.556) in the second game and 0-1 in the third game.
 DID YOU KNOW?: The Suns are 8-5 (.615) this season when CHANNING FRYE and JARED DUDLEY score in double figures in the same game.
 Phoenix is 7-2 this season when scoring 100 points or more.
 HALFTIME: Phoenix is 12-3 this season when leading at the half and 2-17 when trailing.
 The Suns are allowing just 97.1 points this season, the seventh-fewest in the franchise’s 44-year history and fewest overall since 2002-03.
 Phoenix last held opponents’ scoring average under 100 points for an entire season in 2003-04 (97.9).
 The Suns are allowing just 45.1 percent shooting this season, the tenth-lowest in the franchise’s 44-year history.
 The Suns are allowing 8.8 fewer points this season than 2010-11.
 The Suns have held 19 of their first 34 opponents under 100 points this season. Phoenix held 19 of their first 60 opponents under 100 points last
season.
 The Suns have held NINE of their first 34 opponents under 90 points this season. Phoenix held EIGHT opponents under 90 points in the entire 2010-11
season.
 The Suns have held opponents to 23 sub-20-point quarters through 34 games this season. Phoenix did not hold an opponent to its 22nd sub-20-point quarter until the 42nd game of 2010-11

BeasleyTheBeast wrote:this is a must win. Is Love playing?