Tonight's game against the Suns at Phoenix marks the beginning of the end for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It will be the last of four games on the road. It will be the period dotting the end of a grueling 2?-week, nine-city, 10-game stretch. Only 20 games will remain in the Wolves' regular season, seven on the road and eight against teams with records of .500 or better.

Whew or whoosh? That remains to be seen. For tonight not to be the beginning of another end ? Portland, Seattle and San Antonio are creeping up in the standings with only 3? games separating first and fifth in the Western Conference ? the Wolves need to break their losing streak at two games.

"Our guys know the importance (of this game)," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said Thursday after his team practiced at America West Arena. "We had an idea of what we thought we had to do in this 10-game swing, and to get what we need, we need to get this win. We're not going to be overlooking this game."