Dosunmu knows that things have to be fixed.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been a team of highs and lows all season long, and even though they sit at 43-28 and hold the sixth seed in the Western Conference, they keep finding ways to let winnable games slip away.
Friday night's 108-104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers was the latest example, and guard Ayo Dosunmu did not shy away from addressing what he thinks is going wrong in Minnesota.
"We definitely need to do a better job. I think it's about just being in the moment," Dosunmu said after the game. "I think sometimes, some guys, you want to win so bad, so you thinking of the result rather than actually living in the moment. I think we gotta just do a better job of that because that's effort. That's something we can control, for sure. You can control boxing out and grabbing a rebound."
Dosunmu Backs Up His Words
It is worth noting that Dosunmu has been doing his part since joining the Timberwolves from the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline.
Against Portland, he turned in 17 points, a career-high-tying 10 rebounds, and eight assists in 38 minutes while filling in as the starter for Anthony Edwards, who remains sidelined with right knee inflammation.
Across his last three starts without Edwards, Dosunmu has averaged nearly 20 points, eight rebounds, and over five assists per game while shooting close to 47 percent from deep, proving he can handle a bigger role when the team needs him.
Minnesota actually trailed by 18 in the first half against the Blazers before fighting all the way back to tie the game in the third quarter, but a lack of closing ability and defensive lapses down the stretch cost them.
Jerami Grant hit a dagger three-pointer with 22.2 seconds left to seal the win for Portland, and the Wolves could not answer.
A Familiar Problem in Minnesota
Dosunmu's words hit home because this is not a new issue for the Timberwolves.
Despite having the talent to compete with anyone in the West, Minnesota has gone through stretches this season where they look disconnected and unfocused, especially in games they should control.
Rudy Gobert has talked about needing to play with better flow and trust the game plan, while head coach Chris Finch has pointed out problems with the team rushing possessions and looking for shortcuts.
It all lines up with what Dosunmu is getting at, which is that Minnesota's issues are not about talent but about handling the small things that add up over a full game.
The Timberwolves' record without Edwards this season sits at 7-5, and while that is respectable, losses like Friday's sting because they came at home against a Portland team fighting just to stay in the play-in picture.
The Wolves have shown they can survive without their All-Star guard, but the margin for error gets much thinner when the effort and focus are not there from the opening tip.
Looking Ahead
With the regular season winding down and the Western Conference standings bunched up from third through sixth, Minnesota cannot afford to let games like this one get away.
Dosunmu's message was simple and hard to argue with, and the Timberwolves need to start showing that kind of effort and focus more consistently if they want to make a serious push in the playoffs.
The talent is there, and Dosunmu is proving that every night, but talent alone has not been enough to keep the Wolves from beating themselves.