PHOENIX – After two dominant games at home, the question for the Minnesota Timberwolves entering Game 3 was if they could keep the same effort on the road.

The Wolves answered that with a resounding yes as they defeated the Phoenix Suns 126-109 on Friday night to take a 3-0 lead with a chance to win their first playoff series since 2004 on Sunday night in Game 4.

The Wolves led by six at halftime and again used a methodical surge in which they ground the Suns to pieces in the third quarter, when fans began to boo the home team in Footprint Center.

Several Wolves danced around foul trouble all night, but the Wolves had the depth to overcome that.

Anthony Edwards was the reason. He had a monster game and led them with 36 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Edwards bounced back from a bad shooting night in Game 2 with a 12-for-23 performance. When the Wolves needed it, Edwards was able to find his way to the basket and the free-throw line, especially as Phoenix made a last-ditch run in the fourth quarter.

Edwards finished 11-for-11 at the foul line. The Suns had no answer for him any time he wanted to get downhill and to the rim.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the decisive third-quarter with four threes, all in that quarter. He finished with 15 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points for the Wolves. Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 28.

©2024 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.