Takeaways: Timberwolves’ losing streak hits four with 120-115 loss to Bulls

Anthony Edwards picked up two fouls in the first 3 minutes, 38 seconds of the Timberwolves’ 120-115 loss to the Bulls on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Target Center.

The Wolves had started the night well and were up 10, but then with Edwards’ foul trouble, he went to the bench and he and the rest of the team fell out of that early groove. Their defensive intensity waned, and Edwards had trouble making shots the rest of the evening (9-for-25, 20 points).

“I thought it was going to be a pretty good night until I got my second foul,” Edwards said. “Then that kind of messed everything up, but I still got to find a way to get my rhythm. I just never got it back after that.”

The loss marked the first time all season the Wolves have lost four consecutive games, the past two against struggling opponents they should defeat in Utah and Chicago.

“We got in this together. We have to get out of it together,” said forward Julius Randle, who led the team with 30 points. “It’s going to take a lot of effort, a lot of focus, a pickup of intensity. I know typically this time of year guys are peeking at the calendar and looking for the break, but we have to find a way to finish strong and win the games we’re supposed to.”

Edwards shouldered responsibility for the loss.

“If I play halfway like myself tonight, we win the game. So I don’t really blame nobody but myself,” Edwards said.

“We gotta get back to playing defense,” coach Chris Finch said. “We have no defensive personality right now. We gotta get back to winning the point of attack.”

There was a familiar cadence to the matchup against the Bulls.

Like the loss at Utah two nigths earlier, the Wolves built a double-digit lead against a struggling opponent. They let their defensive focus slack and before they knew it, the game tightened.

Apple Valley native Tre Jones provided the go-ahead bucket for Chicago with 31.1 seconds to play on a layup that appeared to be a defensive breakdown for the Wolves. Jones finished with 12 points and seven assists, while Coby White led the Bulls with 22 points and Josh Giddey had 21.

“It definitely feels a little better, just being home, being in front of the family and everything,” Jones said. “Definitely feels a little better for sure. It still is business as usual at the end of the day. But it’s always good to come home and get a win. I haven’t had too many in this arena as a pro, so it definitely feels good.”

The lack of depth scoring is a concern for the Wolves ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, and perhaps this recent stretch could force affect how the Wolves approach that.

The conventional wisdom was the Wolves needed and were looking for a point guard, but perhaps a scoring option, whether guard or wing, would be a higher need now.

“We’re in desperate need of shot in the arm from that,” Finch said. “I thought the bench had great looks tonight too.”

BOXSCORE: Chicago 120, Wolves 115

NBA standings

At shootaround, Gobert was asked what was contributing to his struggles.

“I think I just gotta shoot them. In practice I’m shooting 90% or more,” Gobert said. “I think it’s just me being comfortable out there and just shooting the ball. I get in my own way. I think too much.”

He added he had “zero worries” about regaining his form.