NBA Sundays preview: Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Former NBA coach Neal Meyer takes a look at Sunday's big game

(Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns are back in action again on Sunday, after losing 93-95 to the Memphis Grizzlies in a close game at the FedEx Forum in Memphis last week. This Sunday, the Suns host the Minnesota Timberwolves, another team in the mix for the playoffs, who will also be chasing a much-needed victory.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a home win over the Los Angeles Lakers. They now travel to Phoenix well aware they will need to prevail over a legitimate competitor in the Western Conference Playoffs race. As things stand, NBA veteran Kevin Garnett and company are out of the playoff picture, having lost some of their momentum after a positive start to the season. Although being one of the pleasant surprises of this early season, the young Wolves’ recent struggles mean they will have to build a solid run to keep their post-season ambitions alive.

Player to Watch: Karl-Anthony Towns – Towns was the first overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, and watching him play, it is easy to understand why. He recorded five double-doubles in his first seven games as a pro and is now leading all rookies in rebounds and blocks. Though he is a certain a Rookie of the Year candidate, it would not come as a surprise if he was selected to the All-Star game in February. Watch out for his tenacity while chasing rebounds and beautiful shooting stroke.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns stunned the Chicago Bulls 103-101 on Monday night, ending a frustrating ten-day road trip which saw them record two victories in six games. They will now be looking to end a positive week with a home win at the Talking Stick Resort Arena, which would better position them for the eighth spot in the Western Conference and a first Playoffs appearance since 2010. Led by explosive point guard Eric Bledsoe, the Suns’ have been aided by productive forwards Mirza Teletovic and Jon Leuer.

Player to Watch: Brandon Knight – The 24 year-old will be familiar to London fans having played at NBA Global Games London 2014 (with the Detroit Pistons) and 2015 (with the Milwaukee Bucks). Now with the Suns, Knight is probably having his best season as a pro thus far. His combination of speed, sharp-shooting ability and ball handling skills, makes him tough cover for defenders and have resulted in him averaging over twenty points per game.

Who wins? Tweet your prediction using #NBASUNDAYS

NBA Sundays on BT Sport – a live NBA game every Sunday at 8.30pm. This week on Dec 13 the Phoenix Suns will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on BT Sport/ESPN

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NEAL MEYER'S NBA CV

October 94 - August 95 - San Antonio Spurs - Assistant Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

September 95 - July 97 - Denver Nuggets - Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

August 97 - August 00 - Portland Trail Blazers - Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

September 00 - July 02 - Portland Trail Blazers - Assistant Coach & Scout, Basketball Operations

October 02 - April 03 - Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors - Regional Advance Scout

August 03 - June 09 - Los Angeles Clippers - Assistant Coach & Director of Player Development, Basketball Operations

September 09 - October 10 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Video Coordinator/Coach, Basketball Operations

October 10 - present - Senior Director for the NBA's Basketball Operations across Europe, Middle East and Africa