Timberwolves lack solid defense late in 134-122 loss to Chicago

CHICAGO – Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu took the ball right past D'Angelo Russell and dribbled about 30 feet for an easy layup in the third quarter of the Timberwolves' 134-122 loss to Chicago.

An animated coach Chris Finch called timeout, came out to meet Russell and pointed to where Dosunmu had left Russell in the dust as if to say, "What in the world was that?"

The Wolves' defense has been a point of contention over the last few weeks, even as the team has kept winning sometimes despite its effort at that end of the floor.

Maybe the Wolves need rest. Karl-Anthony Towns sure could use some.

"I'm tired," Towns said. "I'm mentally, physically tired."

But there are still games to play before the All-Star break and the trip to Chicago didn't fix their defensive issues.

The Bulls shot 63% and sprinted to a win with a 42-point fourth quarter after the Wolves trailed by just one entering it. DeMar DeRozan took over early in the fourth and scored 35. Coby White hit six three-pointers, all in the second half, on his way to 22 points and the Wolves just couldn't keep up. The Bulls had four players finish with more than 20 points; Nikola Vucevic added 26 and Javonte Green had 23.

Towns had 27 points while Anthony Edwards had 31 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

"We watch all the film we could, we just go out and do the same stuff," Edwards said.

The Wolves lost their second straight game and while the defense hasn't been good of late, Towns tried to keep the season in perspective.

"I want the fans to know this – this is not panic button," Towns said. "This is not the old Wolves, pressing the panic button … We're good."

Even when the Wolves were on a five-game win streak and beating teams like Detroit and Sacramento, the defensive problems were creeping up on them. Now they're paying for their mistakes.

We didn't beat those teams with good habits," said guard Patrick Beverley, who had 10 points and six assists.

The Wolves play an aggressive style of defense that requires a lot of rotation and players covering for each other. They entered the night with six players on the injury report, all with leg issues. Perhaps the duration of the season and the bumps and bruises the Wolves are getting along the way are making the Wolves a step slower and a little less resistant than they might otherwise be.

"Is it hard? Yes. Is it doable? For sure," Towns said. "We train for this. Just got to get it done. It's as simple as that really."

Despite the defensive problems, the Wolves had a 100-97 lead early in the fourth quarter when Chicago went on a 9-0 run. DeRozan took over with 16 fourth-quarter points.

Veteran guard Patrick Beverley is one of the Wolves playing through an injury, a sprained right ankle, but said that can't be an excuse.

"You don't ever use legs as a bailout," said Beverley, who had seven points. "We have to be better. We just haven't been winning our individual matchups."

Edwards, who has been playing through a sore left knee, said the Wolves might have to have a chat with each other to refocus their defensive intensity.

"I think we got to dig deep," Edwards said. "I think everybody's mentally tired, physically tired so we're not giving that extra effort. As a team we have to come together and have a conversation like, if you ain't got it let us know. Even myself."

They have had "it" offensively of late. The other end of the floor is a different story.