The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on Friday.

The Timberwolves (24-24) have quietly been one of the best teams in the NBA recently, entering this matchup winning eight of their last 12 games. That has them right back to .500, and it's impressive to watch this young core play so well together. Two of those four losses came against the Warriors and Grizzlies too, and not many teams are matching up with those clubs right now. The simple fact is, the young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards has carried them to this point. There's not much help outside of those guys, but it has Timberwolves fans excited about this team for the first time since the Kevin Love era.

The Suns (38-9) have the best record in the NBA right now, and they look like the best team too. Phoenix continues to bombard their opponents night after night, entering this matchup amid an eight-game winning streak. Many people expected to see regression after a shocking run to the Finals last season, but this is the best team in the NBA. Devin Booker provides his usual 25 points, while Chris Paul is leading the NBA with 10.1 assists per game. That's a dynamic duo, and it's crazy to think that they've played most of the season without Deandre Ayton (ankle). He was a revelation in last year's playoffs, and it'll be scary to see this team when he's back and fully healthy!

These teams played on November 15, with Phoenix prevailing, 99-96. That gives the Suns five wins in their last six meetings with the T'Wolves, dating back to 2019.