Apr 13, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns power forward Marcus Morris (15) dribbles as Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Chase Budinger (10) defends during the second quarter at the Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-93 Saturday night.

Phoenix won the first quarter 28-22, but was outscored in the other three periods for the twelve point loss. Phoenix just didn’t have enough in the tank. Both teams were without important frontcourt players with Minnesota missing Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic, while Phoenix was playing minus Marcin Gortat and Jermaine O’Neal.

It is an indictment of the talent in this game that Ricky Rubio was the leading scorer with 24 points. The 22-year-old Spaniard also had, ten assists to notch a double-double and added five rebounds and five steals for a spectacular stat line.

The rest of the starters and a bench player all scored in double digits to propel the Timberwolves to a win. To continue the theme of short people scoring, 6’0” J.J. Barea added 16 points as a reserve, to add to 6’4” Rubio’s point total that made for a dynamic backcourt along with 6’2” Luke Ridnour’s 12 points (those guys are all totally shorter than their listed height).

For the Timberwolves’ frontcourt, Derrick Williams scored 15 points, Andrei Kirilenko had 14, and Dante Cunningham added 13 in the win.

On the Suns side of the ball, the scoring was pretty even and higher than usual for some players, because of the lack of depth, without Michael Beasley, Marcin Gortat, and Jermaine O’Neal in the lineup.

Markieff Morris led the team with 20 points, along with his nine boards, two steals and a block. Jared Dudley was next on the scoring list for Phoenix with 16 points off the bench and two steals. Wesley Johnson was an efficient 7-13 from the field and finished with 15 points. Luis Scola played well with his 14 points, nine rebounds and couple steals and his block. Goran Dragic had an good stat line with 10 points and 14 assists for a double-double and four steals.

This game was the epitome of what the informed Suns fan should want from their team in the final games. Some great play, but not too much. Some exciting plays with the team learning and building for next year, but ultimately a loss.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, and also the Houston Rockets are intricately involved the future of the Suns. Minnesota fortunately beat us tonight, and they hope that this makes them complacent or over-confident because they play the Utah Jazz Monday, who is competing with the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth-spot in the Western Conference. If the Lakers miss the playoffs, which sadly is more probable with Kobe Bryant’s torn Achilles tendon yesterday, Phoenix acquires another pick in this year’s draft. We want Utah to win out.

In the case of the Rockets, they will also contribute to the Suns possible hopeful future as they build through the draft. Houston plays the Suns Monday, in which Phoenix needs to replicate the game from tonight. The Rockets also play the Lakers in one of the last games of the season on Wednesday.

Phoenix was tied before the game with Cleveland for the third-worst record in the league, and this loss could be crucial come the end of June for the draft.

Mar. 1, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward (42) Kevin Love and center (14) Nikola Pekovic against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 104-95. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In the third to last game of this disappointing and frustrating season for the Phoenix Suns, they need to continue to plod on until the basketball year comes to a merciful end for them next week.

Some people say “the future is now”. Well that isn’t true for the men in orange and purple. The future is the future. The potential draft picks and the hopeful nature of the off-season with free agency, cause the players to look ahead instead of focusing on the games directly in front of them in some respect.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in almost the same spot as Phoenix, just a few games better record-wise and the reason for their dismal season is injury, as opposed to talent, as is the case with the Suns.

ESPN’s betting line on this game seems to think Minnesota’s slightly better record will ultimately be a determining factor in who should win this game, seeing as the Timberwolves are favored by 4.5 points.

In terms of missing games, Michael Beasley is expected to play Saturday after missing two games for the birth of his daughter. Jermaine O’Neal missed Sunday’s game with a lower leg injury, but played Tuesday and Wednesday and should play against Minnesota.

On the Timberwolves roster, they are getting slightly healthier. Now they only have Brandon Roy, who has been out for most of the season, reportedly wanting to play in one more game before season’s end. The only other injuries are to Nikola Pekovic and Ricky Rubio. Pekovic missed Friday’s game with a left calf contusion and is listed as day-to-day, while Rubio hasn’t missed any games recently with his apparently minor shoulder injury.

Keys to the game: Suns

• With Kevin Love sidelined with his wrist injury, there isn’t a superstar playing for the Timberwolves. Phoenix needs to play basic defense from the inside out to not let anybody get in the paint.

• On offense it is the basic fundamentals. Move the ball so that you have the ability to take good shots, and don’t turn the ball over.

Keys to the game: Timberwolves

• Even without Pekovic, Minnesota can attack the basket, since the Suns don’t have Marcin Gortat available. They need to get into the paint and get easy baskets.

• Minnesota needs to knock down some threes! They are last in the league in three-point field goal percentage (with the Suns right in front of them). If the Timberwolves can hit from behind the arc, they can win this game.

X-Factor!

If Nikola Pekovic plays in this game then he will be the determining factor in who wins the game. His size inside, rebounding ability and his accuracy around the rim make him a formidable match-up nightmare.

Match-up to watch:

The match-up that will be interesting is Markieff Morris versus Derrick Williams. Both of these players are athletic and talented, but aren’t the focal point of the future of their franchise. They both also have issues rebounding consistently despite their athleticism.