WASHINGTON, United States. The Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs achieved crucial victories this Monday in the NBA, preparing for the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, which will be played on Wednesday. The Suns, despite the absence of their star Devin Booker due to a groin injury, defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves with a score of 108-105. The Timberwolves arrived after a streak of five consecutive victories. Mark Williams led the Suns’ attack with 22 points, being one of six Phoenix players to reach double figures in scoring. Anthony Edwards stood out for Minnesota with 40 points, although his effort was not enough to avoid the defeat. In another thrilling game, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 135-132 away. The Spurs, without their star Victor Wembanyama, who is recovering from a left calf strain and has already missed 11 games, showed a solid offense. Harrison Barnes scored 24 points, Dylan Harper, off the bench, scored 22, and Stephon Castle, returning from a hip injury, contributed 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. With these victories, the Suns (14-10) and the Spurs (16-7) come with momentum to their respective quarterfinal duels:
- San Antonio vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, the team with the best record in the league (23-1) and a current streak of 15 consecutive wins.
