Suns’ 1st-round playoff opponent down to 3 teams after Timberwolves secure 7-seed

The Phoenix Suns are down to three possible matchups in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs after the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in Tuesday night’s play-in game.

With the win, Minnesota secures the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzles in the first round.

As for the Suns, it means they won’t be seeing the T-Wolves come Sunday night when they start their playoffs.

Instead, Phoenix will host one of three teams: the Clippers, the New Orleans Pelicans, or the San Antonio Spurs.

The No. 9 seed Pelicans and No. 10 seed Spurs face off Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in a loser leaves town match.

The winner of that will get the Clippers on Friday night, where the winner will then become the No. 8 seed to face the West’s best, the Suns.

Minnesota was led by the backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards, who combined for 59 points. Russell scored 28 of his 29 points in the second half.

While the Suns still await their opponent, tipoff for Game 1 of their first round series was announced for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday night from Footprint Center.

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