Phoenix Suns vs Timberwolves Match Player Stats

The phoenix suns vs timberwolves match player stats from the December 9, 2025 matchup tell a much more detailed story than the final score alone. Phoenix defeated Minnesota 108-105 at Target Center in Minneapolis, overcoming a 40-point performance from Anthony Edwards and a strong third quarter from the Timberwolves. The Suns finished the night with better three-point efficiency, fewer turnovers, and a decisive fourth-quarter response that turned a tied game into an 11-point advantage before Minnesota rallied late.

For readers looking beyond the basic box score, this game provides several useful statistical lessons. Minnesota actually made a higher percentage of its overall field-goal attempts, controlled the rebounding battle, and received an extraordinary scoring performance from Edwards. Phoenix still found a way to win because its offense was more efficient from three-point range, its turnover total was lower, and several players contributed meaningful scoring rather than relying on one dominant scorer.

The game also illustrates why player statistics should be read together rather than individually. A 40-point performance can be outstanding while still ending in a loss. A player with 11 points can have an important impact through rebounding, passing, defense, and efficient shooting. Team totals can reveal the tactical reasons behind a result that individual scoring numbers may hide.

Table of Contents

Game Overview

Phoenix entered the matchup with a 14-10 record, including a 6-6 road record, while Minnesota was 15-9 and 8-4 at home according to the supplied game data. The setting was Target Center, where 16,046 fans attended.

The final result was:

Phoenix Suns 108, Minnesota Timberwolves 105

The quarter-by-quarter scoring shows how closely the contest developed:

Quarter	Phoenix Suns	Minnesota Timberwolves
First	29	23
Second	32	34
Third	23	27
Fourth	24	21
Final	108	105

Phoenix established a six-point lead after the opening quarter, but Minnesota responded by winning the second and third quarters. That meant the Suns entered the final period trailing the overall momentum despite having led early.

The fourth quarter became the deciding period.

Phoenix scored 24 points while limiting Minnesota to 21. That three-point difference was enough to secure a three-point victory.

The official NBA game record also confirms the 108-105 final score, the Target Center location, and the major individual scoring leaders. Official NBA game box score

phoenix suns vs timberwolves match player stats

The most important individual numbers show two very different offensive approaches.

Anthony Edwards was the game’s leading scorer with 40 points, giving Minnesota an elite individual scoring performance. Julius Randle added 21 points, while Rudy Gobert scored 15 and Naz Reid contributed 14.

Phoenix had a more balanced scoring distribution. Mark Williams led the Suns with 22 points, followed by Collin Gillespie with 19 and Dillon Brooks with 18. Grayson Allen scored 12, while Royce O’Neale added 11.

Phoenix Suns leading scorers

Player	Points
Mark Williams	22
Collin Gillespie	19
Dillon Brooks	18
Grayson Allen	12
Royce O’Neale	11

Phoenix did not need one player to approach Edwards’ scoring total. Instead, five important contributors reached double figures.

That balance mattered.

Williams supplied interior scoring and efficient finishing. Gillespie provided an important scoring burst, particularly in the fourth quarter. Brooks added another physical scoring option, while Allen and O’Neale contributed from the perimeter and through secondary playmaking.

The official NBA reporting lists Williams with 22 points and Gillespie with 19, while the NBA’s game coverage also highlighted Gillespie’s fourth-quarter scoring contribution.

Minnesota Timberwolves leading scorers

Player	Points
Anthony Edwards	40
Julius Randle	21
Rudy Gobert	15
Naz Reid	14

Edwards’ 40 points immediately stand out.

He accounted for a huge portion of Minnesota’s offense and shot 15-for-21 from the field according to the official NBA game recap. That level of efficiency makes the performance even more notable because he did not need an unusually high number of attempts to reach 40 points.

Randle also provided valuable scoring while contributing eight assists. Gobert added 15 points, and Reid finished with 14.

However, the Timberwolves did not receive enough efficient production across the rest of the rotation to overcome Phoenix’s balanced attack.

Shooting Efficiency Explains a Major Part of the Result

One of the most interesting parts of the box score is that Minnesota actually finished with a slightly higher overall field-goal percentage.

Phoenix shot:

41-for-90, 46%

Minnesota shot:

39-for-83, 47%

At first glance, that could make the Timberwolves look like the more efficient shooting team.

But overall field-goal percentage does not tell the entire story.

The three-point numbers provide important context.

Phoenix made:

12 of 33 three-pointers, 36%

Minnesota made:

11 of 42 three-pointers, 26%

That difference was significant.

Minnesota attempted nine more three-pointers than Phoenix but made only one more three-pointer. The result was a lower three-point percentage and a less efficient return from long range.

Phoenix, meanwhile, converted 36% of its three-point attempts. That gave the Suns an important scoring advantage from outside despite Minnesota’s slightly better overall field-goal percentage.

This is a good example of why basic shooting percentage can sometimes hide the value of shot selection.

A team can shoot 47% overall and still struggle offensively if it generates too many low-value possessions or misses heavily from three-point range. Conversely, a team shooting 46% overall can win if it creates enough efficient three-point opportunities and protects its possessions.

Free throws were nearly identical

Both teams shot 70% from the free-throw line.

Phoenix:

14-for-20, 70%

Minnesota:

16-for-23, 70%

Minnesota attempted three more free throws and made two more.

That means free-throw efficiency did not create the decisive difference in the game.

Instead, the more revealing areas were three-point shooting, turnovers, offensive balance, and fourth-quarter execution.

Anthony Edwards’ 40 Points Were Not Enough

Any discussion of the phoenix suns vs timberwolves match player stats has to begin with Edwards’ 40-point performance.

He scored 40 points on 15-for-21 shooting, an exceptionally efficient scoring night. He also collected nine rebounds.

His performance kept Minnesota competitive throughout the game.

Yet the result demonstrates an important basketball principle: individual scoring volume does not automatically translate into a team victory.

Edwards’ scoring accounted for more than one-third of Minnesota’s total points. That shows how heavily the Timberwolves relied on him offensively.

The challenge for Minnesota was not that Edwards failed to produce. He clearly did.

The challenge was that the overall team offense did not maintain the same level of efficiency.

Minnesota shot only 26% from three-point range. Several supporting players also struggled from the field. When a team has a superstar scoring 40 points, the surrounding players still need to convert open opportunities and maintain offensive pressure.

Phoenix managed to distribute its scoring responsibility more evenly.

That difference became especially important in the fourth quarter.

Mark Williams Provided Efficient Interior Production

Mark Williams led Phoenix with 22 points.

His efficiency was one of the most notable elements of the Suns’ offensive performance. The official box score lists him at 7-for-9 from the field, with seven rebounds and two steals.

That means Williams converted nearly 78% of his field-goal attempts.

His scoring did not come from high-volume perimeter shooting. Instead, his production helped Phoenix generate efficient points around the basket.

This type of contribution can be easy to overlook when compared with a 40-point scoring line, but it was important in a close road game.

Williams gave Phoenix a reliable interior option and helped the Suns avoid becoming completely dependent on perimeter shot-making.

His seven rebounds also helped the Suns compete against a Minnesota team that ultimately won the overall rebounding battle.

Collin Gillespie’s Fourth-Quarter Impact

Collin Gillespie finished with 19 points, making him Phoenix’s second-highest scorer.

His fourth-quarter production was particularly important.

According to NBA game coverage, Gillespie scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter.

That means he accounted for half of Phoenix’s 24 fourth-quarter points.

This is exactly the kind of statistic that a traditional final box score can hide.

If someone only sees “Gillespie, 19 points,” they know he had a strong scoring game. But knowing that 12 came in the final period provides much more context.

His scoring arrived when the game was being decided.

That timing matters because fourth-quarter possessions carry greater consequence in a close game. Phoenix needed players capable of creating points while Minnesota was attempting to erase the deficit.

Gillespie’s late scoring helped provide that offensive stability.

Dillon Brooks Added Secondary Scoring

Dillon Brooks scored 18 points for Phoenix.

His shooting was less efficient than Williams’ performance, but his scoring still mattered because it reduced the pressure on Phoenix’s other players.

Brooks attempted 20 field goals and made seven.

That gives him a 35% field-goal percentage for the night.

His three-point shooting was also difficult, as he made two of eight attempts from outside.

From a pure efficiency standpoint, this was not his cleanest shooting performance. But player value cannot always be reduced to field-goal percentage.

A high-volume scorer can still contribute by taking defensive pressure away from teammates and forcing the opposition to account for another scoring option.

In this particular game, Phoenix benefited from having several players capable of taking offensive responsibility.

Royce O’Neale’s All-Around Contribution

Royce O’Neale scored 11 points, but his broader stat line was more important than his scoring total.

He finished with:

11 points
8 rebounds
5 assists
2 steals
1 block

That is a strong example of why the term “key player” should not automatically mean “highest scorer.”

O’Neale contributed across multiple statistical categories.

His eight rebounds helped Phoenix remain competitive against Minnesota’s larger frontcourt. His five assists also helped distribute the offense.

Two steals and one block added defensive value.

A player with this type of statistical profile can influence a close game without appearing near the top of the scoring list.

Julius Randle Controlled the Timberwolves’ Playmaking

Julius Randle scored 21 points and led Minnesota with eight assists.

That combination gave him an important role in the Timberwolves’ offense.

His scoring meant Phoenix could not simply focus entirely on Edwards. His passing also helped Minnesota create opportunities for other players.

Randle’s eight assists were the highest assist total listed for either team.

That is especially relevant because both teams finished with 26 assists overall.

Minnesota therefore matched Phoenix in total team assists despite losing the game.

This tells us that passing volume alone was not enough to determine the outcome. The more important question is what happened after those passes.

Phoenix’s superior three-point efficiency and lower turnover count made its possessions more productive.

Rudy Gobert’s Offensive Contribution

Rudy Gobert finished with 15 points and was an important interior presence for Minnesota.

He also contributed eight rebounds.

The official NBA recap notes that Gobert was ejected in the third quarter following a flagrant foul.

That event is relevant when interpreting his overall impact because his time on the floor was interrupted.

A big man such as Gobert can influence a game through far more than scoring. Rebounding, rim protection, screening, and interior defense can shape possessions that never appear directly in the scoring column.

Minnesota ultimately finished with 46 rebounds, so the Timberwolves maintained a strong presence on the glass.

However, the Suns found enough ways to score despite that advantage.

Rebounding: Minnesota Won the Battle on the Glass

Minnesota collected 46 total rebounds compared with 43 for Phoenix.

That three-rebound difference is meaningful, but it was not overwhelming.

The offensive rebounding numbers were also close:

Phoenix: 14 offensive rebounds
Minnesota: 13 offensive rebounds

Phoenix actually collected one more offensive rebound despite losing the total rebounding category.

This is an important distinction.

Total rebounds are useful, but offensive rebounds can create second-chance scoring opportunities. Phoenix’s 14 offensive rebounds helped generate extra possessions and compensated, at least partially, for Minnesota’s overall rebounding advantage.

Minnesota collected 33 defensive rebounds compared with 29 for Phoenix.

That suggests the Timberwolves did a better job securing missed shots on their defensive end.

Still, Phoenix’s ability to generate 14 offensive rebounds helped keep the possession battle competitive.

Turnovers Were One of Phoenix’s Quiet Advantages

Phoenix committed nine turnovers.

Minnesota committed 13.

That four-turnover difference may appear small, but in a three-point game it becomes particularly important.

The official NBA game summary also records nine turnovers for Phoenix and 13 for Minnesota.

Every turnover can remove a potential scoring opportunity.

Four additional turnovers do not automatically equal a four-possession difference in points because the resulting possessions can vary. However, fewer turnovers generally give an offense more opportunities to attempt shots.

Phoenix also recorded eight steals compared with five for Minnesota.

That means the Suns combined stronger ball security with more steals.

The result was a favorable turnover profile.

Why the turnover margin mattered

Consider the overall situation:

Phoenix had 9 turnovers.
Minnesota had 13 turnovers.
Phoenix made 12 three-pointers.
Minnesota made 11 three-pointers.
Phoenix won the game by 3 points.

In a narrow contest, possessions become extremely valuable.

Phoenix did not dominate every statistical category. Instead, the Suns accumulated several small advantages that collectively outweighed Minnesota’s strengths.

That is one of the clearest lessons from the game.

Assists Were Even at 26 Apiece

Both teams recorded 26 assists.

That statistic is important because it shows that neither side won simply by passing the ball more.

Phoenix’s 26 assists came alongside nine turnovers.

Minnesota’s 26 assists came alongside 13 turnovers.

The assist-to-turnover relationship therefore favored Phoenix.

A simple team-level comparison is:

Phoenix: 26 assists to 9 turnovers

Minnesota: 26 assists to 13 turnovers

Both teams produced the same number of assists, but Phoenix needed four fewer turnovers to generate them.

This suggests more efficient possession management.

It also highlights why raw assist totals should be viewed alongside turnovers.

A team can have a high assist number while still giving away too many possessions. Phoenix avoided that problem more effectively in this matchup.

Fourth-Quarter Execution Decided the Game

The fourth quarter deserves special attention because the final score was only 108-105.

Phoenix scored 24 points in the fourth.

Minnesota scored 21.

That three-point difference exactly matched the final margin.

The official NBA recap describes Phoenix opening the fourth quarter with a 14-3 run, turning an 84-84 tie into a 98-87 lead. Minnesota then fought back and had a late opportunity to tie.

That sequence captures the entire game in miniature.

Minnesota had the momentum after winning the second and third quarters.

The game was tied entering the fourth.

Phoenix then produced a major scoring run.

Minnesota responded.

The Timberwolves eventually had a chance to force overtime, but the tying attempt missed.

This is why the final score should not be interpreted as a comfortable Suns victory.

Phoenix won by three points, and Minnesota remained within reach until the final possessions.

Comparing the Team Statistical Profiles

The broader numbers provide a useful summary.

Category	Phoenix Suns	Timberwolves
Points	108	105
Field Goals	41-90	39-83
FG Percentage	46%	47%
3-Pointers	12-33	11-42
3PT Percentage	36%	26%
Free Throws	14-20	16-23
FT Percentage	70%	70%
Rebounds	43	46
Assists	26	26
Turnovers	9	13
Steals	8	5
Blocks	2	1
Offensive Rebounds	14	13
Defensive Rebounds	29	33
Personal Fouls	20	20

The table makes the game’s balance clear.

Minnesota had:

A slightly better overall field-goal percentage
More total rebounds
More free-throw attempts
More defensive rebounds

Phoenix had:

More points
Better three-point percentage
Fewer turnovers
More steals
More blocks
More offensive rebounds

That combination helps explain the final result without relying on a single statistic.

What the Shooting Numbers Really Tell Us

A deeper look at the numbers shows that Phoenix’s 36% three-point shooting was particularly valuable.

The Suns made 12 threes for 36 points.

Minnesota made 11 threes for 33 points.

So Phoenix gained only three points from made three-pointers despite attempting nine fewer shots from beyond the arc.

That is an important efficiency difference.

Minnesota attempted 42 three-pointers.

At a 26% success rate, many of those possessions ended without a made three.

Phoenix attempted only 33 and converted 36%.

The Suns therefore extracted more value from their perimeter attempts.

This does not mean taking fewer threes is automatically better. Shot volume can be valuable when a team has strong shooters or generates quality looks.

But in this particular game, Minnesota’s additional attempts did not translate into additional three-point scoring.

The Importance of Balanced Scoring

Phoenix had five players in double figures among the primary scorers listed in the supplied data.

Minnesota had four.

More importantly, the Suns’ top four scorers were relatively close:

Williams: 22
Gillespie: 19
Brooks: 18
Allen: 12

Minnesota had a much steeper scoring concentration:

Edwards: 40
Randle: 21
Gobert: 15
Reid: 14

That distribution matters.

Minnesota received 40 points from Edwards, which was more than one-third of its total.

Phoenix’s offense was more evenly distributed.

That made it harder for Minnesota to eliminate every scoring option.

If one Phoenix player struggled, other players could compensate.

The Suns’ ability to generate contributions from multiple positions was particularly valuable in a close road game.

What the Game Says About Player Evaluation

The phoenix suns vs timberwolves match player stats are also useful for understanding how player performance should be evaluated.

A simple scoring leaderboard might say:

Anthony Edwards, 40
Mark Williams, 22
Julius Randle, 21
Collin Gillespie, 19
Dillon Brooks, 18

But that ranking would not explain the game.

O’Neale’s 11 points came with eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block.

Randle’s 21 points came with eight assists.

Williams’ 22 points came with highly efficient shooting and seven rebounds.

Gillespie’s 19 points included a major fourth-quarter contribution.

Therefore, evaluating players requires more than asking who scored the most.

Useful questions include:

How efficiently did the player score?
How many possessions did the player use?
Did the player create opportunities for teammates?
Did the player protect the ball?
Did the player rebound?
Did the player contribute defensively?
Did the player perform especially well during decisive stretches?

Those questions provide a more complete picture.

A Closer Look at Phoenix’s Winning Formula

Phoenix’s victory can be reduced to several connected factors.

1. Efficient perimeter shooting

The Suns made 36% of their threes compared with 26% for Minnesota.

2. Better ball security

Phoenix committed nine turnovers against Minnesota’s 13.

3. Balanced scoring

Phoenix did not need a 40-point performance from one player because multiple players contributed.

4. Offensive rebounding

The Suns grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.

5. Fourth-quarter response

Phoenix scored 24 fourth-quarter points and limited Minnesota to 21.

6. Defensive activity

Phoenix recorded eight steals and two blocks.

None of these factors alone explains a three-point win.

Together, they do.

A Closer Look at Minnesota’s Strong Points

Minnesota also had several statistical strengths.

Anthony Edwards’ scoring efficiency

Edwards scored 40 points on 15-for-21 shooting.

Rebounding

Minnesota won the overall rebounding battle 46-43.

Free-throw opportunities

The Timberwolves attempted 23 free throws compared with Phoenix’s 20.

Defensive rebounding

Minnesota collected 33 defensive rebounds.

Julius Randle’s playmaking

Randle recorded eight assists.

These strengths kept Minnesota in the game.

The issue was not a lack of positive statistical contributions. Instead, the Timberwolves could not convert enough of those advantages into a final scoring edge.

Why the Three-Point Gap Matters More Than It Looks

Phoenix’s five-percentage-point advantage from three-point range was one of the most important differences in the box score.

Phoenix shot 36%.

Minnesota shot 26%.

That is a ten-percentage-point gap.

The difference becomes more meaningful because Minnesota attempted more threes.

When a team takes 42 three-point attempts, its success rate has a major effect on the final score.

If Minnesota had converted just a few additional attempts, the final margin could have changed substantially.

This does not mean missed threes were the only reason for the loss. Basketball outcomes are created by many possessions.

But the perimeter efficiency gap was a clear statistical difference between the teams.

The Possession Battle Was Surprisingly Close

The game was not decided by a huge difference in rebounding or assists.

Both teams had 26 assists.

Rebounding was 46-43 in Minnesota’s favor.

Offensive rebounding was 14-13 in Phoenix’s favor.

Turnovers were 13-9 in favor of Phoenix.

That creates a fairly balanced possession profile.

Phoenix’s ability to avoid mistakes was therefore particularly valuable.

In a game decided by three points, small possession-level advantages can have an outsized impact.

One extra offensive rebound can create a second shot.

One avoided turnover can preserve a possession.

One made three-pointer can change the scoreboard by three points immediately.

The Suns consistently collected enough of these small advantages to finish ahead.

What Fans Should Take From the Box Score

For someone checking this matchup after the final buzzer, the most useful numbers are not simply the top scorers.

The key takeaways are:

Anthony Edwards: 40 points and 9 rebounds.

Mark Williams: 22 points and strong shooting efficiency.

Collin Gillespie: 19 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter.

Julius Randle: 21 points and 8 assists.

Royce O’Neale: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Phoenix: 36% from three and only 9 turnovers.

Minnesota: 26% from three and 13 turnovers.

Final margin: Phoenix won by 3 points.

These numbers provide a much better explanation of the result than the final score alone.

How to Read Similar NBA Player Stats More Effectively

If you are comparing future matchups, use a repeatable process.

Start with scoring, but do not stop there.

Step 1: Check the final score

This establishes the result and margin.

Step 2: Check shooting efficiency

Look at field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, and free-throw percentage.

Step 3: Examine shot volume

A player shooting 60% on five attempts had a different offensive role from someone shooting 45% on 20 attempts.

Step 4: Review rebounds

Separate offensive rebounds from defensive rebounds when possible.

Step 5: Compare assists and turnovers

This helps show how efficiently a team creates offense.

Step 6: Look at steals and blocks

These can reveal defensive activity that scoring totals do not capture.

Step 7: Examine quarter-by-quarter performance

A team may win because of a single dominant quarter.

Step 8: Look at late-game production

Close games are often determined by a small number of fourth-quarter possessions.

This approach provides a much more useful interpretation than simply copying the scoring leaderboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who scored the most points in the Phoenix Suns vs Timberwolves game?

Anthony Edwards led all players with 40 points for Minnesota. Mark Williams led Phoenix with 22 points.

What was the final score between Phoenix and Minnesota?

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-105 at Target Center.

How many points did Mark Williams score?

Mark Williams scored 22 points for Phoenix. He also recorded seven rebounds in the game.

How many points did Anthony Edwards score?

Anthony Edwards scored 40 points and added nine rebounds for Minnesota.

Which team shot better from three-point range?

Phoenix shot better from three, making 12 of 33 attempts for 36%. Minnesota made 11 of 42 attempts for 26%.

Which team had more turnovers?

Minnesota committed 13 turnovers, while Phoenix committed nine.

Conclusion

The phoenix suns vs timberwolves match player stats show a game decided by efficiency, balance, and late-game execution rather than by one overwhelming statistical category.

Anthony Edwards produced the biggest individual scoring performance with 40 points, while Julius Randle added 21 points and eight assists. Minnesota also won the rebounding battle and received 46 total rebounds.

Phoenix answered with a balanced scoring attack led by Mark Williams’ 22 points, Collin Gillespie’s 19 points, and Dillon Brooks’ 18 points. Royce O’Neale contributed across several categories, while Phoenix as a team protected the ball better and converted its three-point attempts at a considerably higher rate.

The most important team-level differences were Phoenix’s 36% three-point shooting compared with Minnesota’s 26%, the Suns’ nine turnovers compared with 13 for the Timberwolves, and the fourth-quarter scoring margin of 24-21.

The final 108-105 score reflects how close the matchup remained. Minnesota had enough production to stay within striking distance, but Phoenix’s combination of perimeter efficiency, possession control, balanced scoring, and fourth-quarter execution produced the three-point victory.

For anyone studying this matchup, the main lesson is that player statistics become far more useful when they are connected to team context. Edwards’ 40 points, Williams’ efficient scoring, Gillespie’s fourth-quarter production, Randle’s playmaking, O’Neale’s all-around contribution, and the two teams’ contrasting three-point and turnover numbers together provide the clearest picture of how the game was decided.