PHOENIX – Entering this road trip, the Timberwolves defense was on an upswing. They had inched up to 12th in defensive efficiency and it seemed like they were figuring things out.
Then they allowed a season high 139 points to Oklahoma City on Friday. You can explain some of that away by saying it was an overtime game, one the Wolves should've never let get there.
But then they followed that up by allowing another season high, 142, to the Lakers on Sunday, as Anthony Davis went for 50.
They didn't allow another season high Monday against Phoenix, but they did allow 125 points and the Suns shot 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
If the Wolves are going to turn around this current five-game losing streak, it's going to start on the defensive end of the floor.
"I'll have to watch the film, but I thought we let out guard down early on [in the second half]," coach Ryan Saunders said. "We let Phoenix get into a rhythm. They got a little bit of energy from that and we were unable to come back."
When asked what the Wolves needed to improve on that end of the floor – communication, understanding schemes -- Saunders didn't hold back.
"All of the above right now. All of the above," Saunders said. "Not a good road trip for our defense. Not a good road trip for us in general. We have things we need to clean up going home. We'll have challenges but opportunities."
