Wolves Defeat Suns in Defensive Fourth Quarter

Minnesota locks down Phoenix in the final frame to secure 116-104 victory

Mar. 18, 2026 at 8:52am

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The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Phoenix Suns 116-104 on Tuesday evening, powered by a strong defensive performance in the fourth quarter. The Wolves led by six points heading into the final frame and outscored the Suns 24-18 to seal the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps the Timberwolves in the hunt for a high playoff seed in the Western Conference, as they continue to battle for position with teams like the Suns. Minnesota's ability to lock down on defense in crunch time was a key factor in this important late-season matchup.

The details

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 32 points, while Bones Hyland added 22 points and five assists off the bench. Anthony Edwards chipped in 19 points and five rebounds, and Jaden McDaniels tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

  • The game was played on Tuesday evening.

The players

Julius Randle

A key player for the Minnesota Timberwolves who scored a team-high 32 points in the victory.

Bones Hyland

A Timberwolves bench player who contributed 22 points and five assists in the win.

Anthony Edwards

A starting forward for the Timberwolves who scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Jaden McDaniels

A Timberwolves player who recorded 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the game.

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What’s next

The Timberwolves will host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in the second game of a back-to-back.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter was crucial in securing this important late-season victory over a Western Conference rival. Minnesota's ability to lock down on defense in crunch time could be a key factor as they continue to battle for playoff positioning.