Deandre Ayton has career-high 35 points, Suns rally past T-Wolves

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The NBA-leading Phoenix Suns, still playing short-handed, passed another stiff test.

Even before Chris Paul comes back, they appear more than ready for another deep postseason run.

Deandre Ayton scored a career-high 35 points and had 14 rebounds, Devin Booker had 22 of his 28 points in the second half and the Suns surged past the trash-talking Minnesota Timberwolves 125-116 on Wednesday night.

Landry Shamet scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help fuel the rally from a 15-point deficit.

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Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

Phoenix needs one win — or a Memphis loss — to wrap up home-court advantage for the entire playoffs. The Suns have a nine-game lead with nine games left. They have won six straight, 18 of 22 and are 59-14 overall.

"That’s a playoff environment," said Ayton, who clutched the game ball for his career game at a podium afterward for his interview session.

Phoenix completed its first sweep of three or more games against Minnesota in 11 seasons.

Anthony Edwards scored 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves. They dropped 1 1/2 games behind Denver for the No. 6 seed that avoids the play-in tournament. Minnesota has its first two-game losing streak since Feb. 9-11.

Towns had only three points in the second half. He seemed to spark the exchanges of trash talking and rough stuff that led to three technical fouls and one flagrant foul called on each team.

The Suns