Wolves' Julius Randle Says He Won't Sleep After Lakers Loss, 'Everybody's Frustrated'

The Minnesota Timberwolves have started the season 2-3, and Tuesday's 116-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers was particularly frustrating given that both Luka Dončić and LeBron James were sidelined with injuries.

"We know we're a way better team than this," Julius Randle told reporters after the game. "Everybody's frustrated. I'm not going to sleep tonight. I know that for a fact. It's frustrating, but we gotta figure it out."

The Wolves themselves were without Anthony Edwards, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. But that doesn't excuse the surprisingly poor defensive start to the season for Minnesota (119.0 PPG allowed, 18th in the NBA), especially given that the team's identity is built around being tough on that end.

"Coach preached the whole morning (and) game," Randle told reporters. "It's on us as players. We gotta go out and execute, and we're just not doing it, for whatever reason. But I have faith in our group. I know we will do it. We just gotta stick together. We can't point the finger. Just stay together."