Recap: Suns 91, Timberwolves 89

Posted Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:39 PM - Updated Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:39 PM

Marcus Morris hit a game-winning fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to help the Phoenix Suns erase what was once a 24-point deficit and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 91-89 on day four of the 2013 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV's campus.

Trailing by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, Phoenix closed the game out on a 10-2 run over the final 1:38. The Suns tied the game up at 87 on back-to-back threes from Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall and hustled their way into an 89-all affair with 11.5 seconds remaining on a P.J. Tucker hook shot after three offensive rebounds earlier in the possession.

Minnesota had a chance to take back the lead, but Marcus Morris wrestled the ball away from the Timberwolves' Shabazz Muhammad with 3.3 seconds left and called timeout to set up the buzzer-beating shot.

Tied 8-8 in the early going, the Timberwolves went on a 17-2 run spanning more than five minutes and ended the first quarter up 32-14 after Solomon Jones sank a mid-range jump shot with a second to play in the period. The lead ballooned to 46-22 in the second quarter before Phoenix closed to within seven by the end of the third.

Phoenix was led in scoring by the 22 points of Markieff Morris, who was a very efficient 7-9 from the field, 2-3 from beyond the arc and 6-7 from the free throw line while also collecting six rebounds. Twin brother and Monday hero Marcus finished his all-around game with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, leading all players in the theft department.

The Morris twins were two of five Suns to record double-digits. Dionte Christimas scored 16 points off the bench for first-year head coach and former Sun draftee Jeff Hornacek, while 2012 Phoenix first-round draft pick Kendall Marshall added 13 and six assists and Tucker contributed a near double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

Minnesota was hot from downtown all game long, connecting on 10 of its 20 three-point field goal attempts while shooting 49 percent for the game overall. Leading the hot-shooting charge was former Purdue star Robbie Hummel, who connected on both of his three-point tries and led the team with 18 points. Hummel, a late second-round pick of the Timberwolves in the 2012 NBA Draft, finished 6-8 from the field overall. Fellow Big Ten alum Demetri McCamey also did not miss from beyond the arc, nailing all three of his downtown shots and finishing with 13 points on 5-7 shooting.

With the win, Phoenix improves to 2-0 and will play its final pre-tournament game Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. PT against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Thomas & Mack Center. Now 0-2, the Timberwolves face the Miami Heat Tuesday at 1 p.m. PT at COX Pavilion.

• Timberwolves: --
• Suns: --

• Timberwolves: --
• Suns: Morris, Morris

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
• Officials: #52 Scott Twardoski, #56 Brandon Hiers, #10 William Mensah, #39 Brenda Pantoja, #48 Vladimir Voyard-Tadal, #30 Mitchell Ervin
• Attendance: -
• Duration: 2:04