Against a Wolves team coming off a confidence-boosting road win over the Detroit Pistons, the Phoenix Suns rode their old guard, and center, to a 110-102 victory in front of 11,708 at Target Center.

Point guard Steve Nash scored 20 points, including four big free throws down the stretch, and center Shaquille O'Neal added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who never trailed while running their record to 11-5.

Al Jefferson had 28 points and 17 rebounds, including a team-record 12 offensive boards, for the Wolves (3-10), who failed for the third time this season to put together back-to-back wins.

The home team didn't go down without a fight, chopping a 16-point halftime deficit to five in the third period and twice getting it down to six points in the final minute.

In the end, though, the Wolves couldn't overcome a lackluster first quarter in which they allowed the Suns to shoot 68.4 percent (13 of 19) while taking a 28-23 lead.

Coming off a 106-80 road victory over the Pistons on Sunday, Wolves coach Randy Wittman said his team's slow start took him by surprise.

"I was shocked really by our lackadaisical, OK, let's-get-into-the-flow thing," he said. "I just thought this group was going to be jacked sky high, and it kind of was the opposite."

Compared to the Detroit game, Wittman said it was as if his players came out hoping something would happen instead of making it happen.

The Wolves didn't quit, but their second-half comeback attempt was too little, too late.

"You can't play just one half or one quarter or two quarters," Wittman said. "I think that's what we (did) tonight."

The Wolves' one-game turnaround was evident in the final statistics.

Point guard Randy Foye, who had 23 points and a career-high 14 assists against the Pistons, finished with 17 and five, respectively, but made just 8 of 17 shots.

With Ryan Gomes making 5 of 14, Mike Miller 2 of 8 and rookie Kevin Love 0 of 3, it was a tough shooting night all around, but the Wolves agreed with their coach that they had only themselves to blame.

"I don't think you can pinpoint one reason why it did happen, but we can't let it happen," Gomes said. "We've only got three wins. There's got to be some sense of urgency every possession, every play and giving ourselves the best chance. Some nights we're going to play extremely well and get beat, but tonight was one of those things we shouldn't let happen, especially coming off the game we had the other night."

The one bright spot was Jefferson, who broke the team record of 11 offensive rebounds held by Kevin Garnett (Dec. 3, 2004, against Phoenix) and Felton Spencer (Dec. 11, 1990, Los Angeles Clippers).

Even Big Al was no match, though, for the Suns' 1-2 punch of O'Neal, 36, and Nash, 34.

The Wolves, who play Friday at Oklahoma City, started 2 of 9 from the field and fell behind to stay when Raja Bell hit a three-pointer to give Phoenix a 7-4 lead with 9:45 to play in the first quarter.

The Suns outscored the Wolves 13-2 at the start of the second period to move out to a 41-25 advantage before O'Neal was called for goaltending on a Jason Collins floater.

The Phoenix run included a technical foul on Wittman, who was teed up by referee Eric Dalen for arguing a loose-ball foul on Sebastian Telfair.