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.
http://www.nba.com/games/20120301/MINPH ... 0021100525
Probable Starting lineups
Wolves
PG: Rubio
SG: Ridnour
SF: Johnson
PF: Williams/Love
C: Pekovic
Suns
PG: Nash
SG: Dudley
SF: Hill
PF: Frye
C: Gortat
KEY MATCHUP: POINT GUARD BATTLE
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
