Rudy Gobert Takes Blame as Wolves Lose to LaMelo Ball, Hornets with Anthony Edwards Out Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert expressed frustration with his performance in Sunday's 122-108 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets, which extended the team's losing streak to three games.

"I look at myself first, before the others, so I've got to be better," Gobert said, per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski.

The three-time All-Star finished with a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) but had a role in allowing Charlotte to collect 16 offensive rebounds. The Hornets scored twice as many second-chance points (24) as the Wolves (12).

Hornets-Timberwolves Highlights

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"It feels like we're a million miles away from the team that we can be and that we are," coach Chris Finch said. "We've got to get that back with our connectedness and our spirit."

Finch also wanted to deflect some of the blame away from Gobert in terms of Charlotte's effectiveness on the glass.

"Too much of it's on Rudy," he said, per the Star Tribune's Cassidy Hettesheimer. "It was pretty physical down there, and you know, he was battling. … A lot of our perimeter players needed to get back in and rebound the ball."

Minnesota was without star guard Anthony Edwards, and forward Jaden McDaniels missed his fifth straight contest.

"They are two of our best creators, best scorers, so of course it requires it to play us a little differently, but I think tonight, about the things we talked about, the things that we control," Gobert said. "Rebounds, turnovers ... no matter who is out there, I think we can do a better job."

Minnesota has a three-game cushion on the seventh-place Phoenix Suns with four left to play. The Timberwolves are pretty much assured of avoiding the play-in tournament.

Still, the injuries to McDaniels and Edwards and the team's recent performances aren't providing a lot of encouragement ahead of the postseason.

The Wolves have the 18-win Indiana Pacers ahead on Tuesday night. It could be a prime opportunity for Finch's squad to rediscover its groove.