MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mark Williams had 22 points and seven rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns overcame Anthony Edwards' 40 points to snap the Minnesota Timberwolves' five-game winning streak with a 108-105 victory Monday night.
Collin Gillespie added 19 points and Dillon Brooks had 18 for the Suns, who stunned Minnesota with a late rally in their previous meeting but had an easier time Monday. Phoenix never trailed by more than two points in its final tuneup before traveling to league-leading Oklahoma City on Wednesday for an NBA Cup quarterfinal game.
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Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, front, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) handles the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) loses control of the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after making a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) high-fives guard Devin Booker, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Edwards shot 15 for 21 and Julius Randle had 21 points, but the rest of Minnesota's top players struggled. Naz Reid was 2 for 12 off the bench and Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo both went 1 for 7.
Rudy Gobert was having a good night until he was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.
In the Suns' 114-113 home victory on Nov. 21, they became the first team since January 2022 to win in regulation after trailing by eight or more points within the final minute.
This time, the Suns blitzed the Wolves with a 14-3 spurt to start the fourth quarter, turning an 84-all tie into a 98-87 lead. Minnesota got back in it and had a chance to tie, but McDaniels missed a 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds to play.
Suns: Visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Timberwolves: Visit the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, front, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) handles the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) loses control of the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after making a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) high-fives guard Devin Booker, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo developed a reputation for making rapid returns from injury during his rise to superstardom, but the Milwaukee Bucks forward acknowledges those days may be drawing to a close.
Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 11 rebounds Monday night in Milwaukee’s 108-81 loss to the Boston Celtics, his first action since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. The two-time MVP has missed a career-high 29 games this season, 23 of those with calf injuries.
That's a new experience for Antetokounmpo, who had grown accustomed to returning earlier than expected from injuries.
“I’ve just got to be smarter moving forward, because things that I was able to do in the past maybe I’m not able to do now,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve just got to be more methodical with my rehab.”
During Milwaukee's 2021 playoff run, Antetokounmpo missed just two games with a hyperextended left knee and went on to earn NBA Finals MVP honors while leading the Bucks to their first championship in half a century. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in the series-ending Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
This season has proved more frustrating.
“I’m not old, but I’m older, for sure,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m not 24 years old anymore. I’m 31.”
Antetokounmpo missed eight games with a right calf strain in December, came back and then strained his calf again. Calf issues also caused him to miss Milwaukee's 2024 first-round playoff loss to Indiana.
“When you’re dealing with soft-tissue issues, it’s hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve dealt with knee pain in the past. It’s totally different. If you're not able to take care of your soft-tissue injuries, they can linger. I think that’s what happened this year. I feel like I've been playing the whole year with a deficit.”
The same could be said for Antetokounmpo's team.
Milwaukee is 15-16 with Antetokounmpo and 11-18 without him as the Bucks are facing increasingly long odds in their bid for a 10th straight playoff berth.
The Bucks are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, 3 1/2 games behind 10th-place Charlotte. The teams that finish seventh through 10th compete in a tournament for the East’s two final playoff spots.
Milwaukee went 8-2 without Antetokounmpo from Feb. 3-25 but has lost its last three games by a combined 79 points. Bucks coach Doc Rivers altered his rotation Monday by giving Ousmane Dieng his second start of the season and not playing Kyle Kuzma.
Forward Bobby Portis referred to Milwaukee's 8-2 stretch as “fool's gold,” pointing out that many of those wins came against teams with losing records.
“Obviously a lot of ground we have to cover to get into a play-in situation, a playoff situation,” Portis said. “New waters for us, new uncharted waters for us. Really not used to being in this situation, but I just think … staying together is big. So many ways different guys can go. You can start thinking about yourself. You can start thinking about summer, whatever it is.”
The Bucks will try to make their push amid speculation about Antetokounmpo's future.
In October, Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million. He otherwise could become a free agent at the end of next season.
Although Antetokounmpo repeatedly has discussed how much he loves playing in Milwaukee, he also has prioritized wanting to play on a team that’s committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons.
Now they'll have their hands full getting to the postseason at all. In the meantime, Antetokounmpo will have his minutes restricted while he works toward full health and gets accustomed to playing with Dieng and Cam Thomas.
“I’m just happy that I’m on the court,” Antetokounmpo said. “It doesn’t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I’m just happy that I’m out there. I’m just in a mindset where I try not to take nothing for granted.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watches teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watches teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
