The Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a playoff streak of first-round series losses with an emphatic win against the Phoenix Suns in Game 4. In their three previous years in the playoffs, the Wolves lost all three series in the first round and won four games total across those three series.
In fact, the Timberwolves made it past the first round just once in 11 playoff appearances over their franchise history. But a new day is dawning in Minnesota after the Timberwolves not only won a first-round series but pulled off a sweep of the Suns in the process.
The Wolves' dominant performance against the Suns is even more impressive considering they were underdogs entering the series. The Suns closed as -130 favorites in this first-round series and received 54% of betting tickets and 59% of the handle at BetMGM before Game 1.
The Timberwolves outscored the Suns by double digits in three of the four games of this series and became the first series 'dog to sweep an opponent since the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Toronto Raptors in 2018, according to Sports Odds History. The Wolves were listed at +1400 to pull off a sweep.
This marks just the second series sweep in Kevin Durant's career, and the third straight season the Suns are out of the playoffs before the Western Conference finals after their Finals run in 2021. The Suns entered the season with +550 odds to win it all — sixth-shortest odds to win a title with no playoff wins in the last 40 years, per Action Network Director of Research Evan Abrams.
After the game, Durant and Devin Booker were clear about their frustration with their level of play across the board in the series.
"The details."
Devin Booker on why Suns were swept in 1st round.
"These are the times the details matter and it's something that we kind of passed by and didn't think was a big deal but came back and bit us in the ass." #Suns#NBAPlayoffspic.twitter.com/d4oeS8cC5t
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 29, 2024
Based on new reporting from Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Suns "will take a hard look at making a full coaching change or, at the very least discuss adjustments to Vogel's staff."
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will await the winner of the Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers series where they will either travel to Denver for Game 1 or host the Lakers.
Oddsmakers have steadily moved the Wolves' odds to win the title over the past week. The Timberwolves entered the NBA playoffs listed at +2000 to win the NBA championship at Bet MGM. After the sweep, the Timberwolves are +1000 behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (+900), Nuggets (+240), and Boston Celtics (+130).
