Minnesota @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 20, 2019 ) Phoenix 114, Minnesota 116

Derrick Rose added another highlight to his remarkable comeback season Sunday against the Phoenix Suns at home. Rose will try to follow up a memorable performance when he leads his Minnesota Timberwolves into a rematch with the Suns in Phoenix on Tuesday.

The former MVP, who played just 25 games with two teams last season, capped a 29-point second half with a jumper in the final second to lift the Timberwolves to a 116-114 victory in the front end of the home-and-home set. "It was all up to my teammates and the coaches for giving me that confidence, putting the ball in my hands and just believing in me," Rose told reporters. The Suns finished an 0-4 road trip with the loss and return to the desert hoping to extend their two-game home winning streak. Rookie center Deandre Ayton (ankle) sat out Sunday's matchup -- the first missed game of his career -- and is not expected to return Tuesday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (22-24): Center Karl-Anthony Towns scored 30 points to go along with 12 rebounds and a career high-tying four steals Sunday. The 23-year-old made all 13 of his free throws and is 22-of-22 from the line over his last three games. Taj Gibson chipped in 17 points on 7-of-8 from the field, and the veteran forward has made 20-of-29 shots in a four-game hot stretch.

ABOUT THE SUNS (11-37): T.J. Warren led Phoenix with 21 points in Sunday's loss, the second two-point setback on the trip for the Western Conference's last-place team. "I think we played well enough to deserve to win this game, but again, we didn't find a way to close the game," coach Igor Kokoskov told reporters. "It's just a bad taste in our mouth after this loss, but we have to learn from mistakes." Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 20.3 points over his last seven games after chipping in 18 off the bench Sunday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves SF Robert Covington (ankle) has missed 10 straight games.

2. Suns SG Devin Booker scored 28 points to lead the Suns to a 107-99 win in the first matchup between the teams in Phoenix on Dec. 15.

3. Rose is averaging 23 points over his last three games despite shooting 1-for-12 from 3-point range.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 114, Suns 112