SUNS 114, TIMBERWOLVES 90: Rookie Markieff Morris scored 21 points off the bench and Shannon Brown added 17 as Phoenix won for the fifth time in six games to stay afloat in the playoff race.

Steve Nash and Sebastian Telfair each had 14 points and Michael Redd added 13 as the Suns’ bench outscored their starters 66-48. Phoenix remains one game back of Denver for the No. 8 seed in the West.

The Suns turned the ball over 17 times but the miscues were offset by shooting 57.3 percent from the floor.

Kevin Love had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who dropped their sixth straight. J.J. Barea added 16 points.

Minnesota pulled within five points early in the third quarter when the Sun took control with a 14-2 run. Channing Frye nailed a 3-pointer and later had a pair of jumpers during the spurt and Brown hit a jumper to make it 71-53.

The Suns pushed the lead to as many as 27 points in the fourth thanks to Morris, who had nine points in the final period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Timberwolves starting guard Luke Ridnour missed his fifth straight with a sprained ankle. … Nash, who averages 11.2 assists, had only five. … Minnesota hit 20 of 23 free throws.