Analyzing Collin Gillespie’s Clutch Performance and Its Influence on the Phoenix Suns’ Latest Victory Against the Timberwolves
The Phoenix Suns secured their second crucial victory of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, December 8, 2025, winning a nail biting 108-105 contest at the Target Center. The win, which snapped the Timberwolves' five game winning streak, was a balanced effort, but once again saw point guard Collin Gillespie rise to the occasion. The Villanova product, who hit a game winning jumper against the same team weeks prior, delivered 19 points and a pair of crucial free throws in the final seconds to ensure the Suns secured the road victory, further solidifying his role as a key contributor.
The immediate impact of the victory was Phoenix's clutch performance in the absence of star Devin Booker, who remains sidelined with a groin injury. The Suns vs Timberwolves matchup was an immediate test of Phoenix's depth, and they passed, relying on a balanced offensive effort led by Mark Williams’ 22 points and Gillespie’s 19. The Suns started the fourth quarter with an 14-3 spurt that turned an 84-all tie into a 98-87 lead, providing the necessary cushion to withstand a furious late game rally by Minnesota. Gillespie’s final two free throws came after a late foul, extending the Suns’ lead to three points and forcing Minnesota to attempt a game tying three pointer, which Jayden McDaniels ultimately missed.
The strategic disparity between the Suns vs Timberwolves game was a contrast between Minnesota's heavy reliance on one star and Phoenix's collective effort. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was magnificent, pouring in a game high 40 points on incredibly efficient 15-for-21 shooting. However, the rest of the Minnesota rotation struggled to convert, with Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo going a combined 2-for-14. This lack of secondary scoring, combined with the third quarter ejection of center Rudy Gobert for a flagrant foul, allowed the Suns to strategically execute their offense. Phoenix used Gillespie’s playmaking and shooting threat to maintain control, especially as the game tightened late, proving their system is resilient even without their leading scorer.
Looking ahead, the future outlook for the Phoenix Suns (14-10) is significantly brighter following this pivotal road victory, which serves as a massive momentum builder before their NBA Cup quarterfinal against the league leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. The repeated success against a strong Timberwolves team including their previous buzzer beating win has highlighted the team’s "no quit" mentality and the growth of Gillespie into a reliable backcourt presence. For the Minnesota Timberwolves (15-9), the loss is frustrating, snapping a promising winning streak and raising questions about their ability to close out games and generate offense when Edwards faces defensive pressure.