Rudy Gobert Shares Blueprint for Wolves' Success After Bounceback Win Over Hawks

The Minnesota Timberwolves needed a feel-good night, and they got one on Monday.

After dropping three of their last four games heading into the matchup, the Wolves came out and dominated the short-handed Atlanta Hawks from start to finish in a 138-116 blowout at Target Center.

Seven of the nine Minnesota players who checked in scored in double figures, and the ball zipped around the floor with purpose all night long.

The team finished with 36 assists on 55 made field goals while shooting 60 percent from the floor and pouring in 70 points in the paint.

After the game, center Rudy Gobert spoke about what worked and what it will take to keep that same energy going forward.

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year did not hold back.

"We got to keep working as a team to make sure that... not every night is going to be as pretty as tonight, but even when it's not pretty, we got to keep trusting our action, keep trusting our ball movement, and of course compete defensively," Gobert said.

"That's the root of everything."

Those words carry extra weight given what Gobert said earlier this week.

After a 119-115 home loss to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, Gobert called out the team's effort in no uncertain terms, suggesting that coach Chris Finch should bench anyone who doesn't bring enough intensity on the defensive end.

He called the team's effort "unacceptable" for a group with championship goals and said that no one should get a pass for not playing defense, regardless of how many points they score.

Those comments drew a public response from Finch, who said he wished Gobert had kept the conversation in-house, and the whole situation added tension to a team already reeling from a rough stretch.

Monday's performance against the Hawks (26-29) was exactly the kind of response the Wolves needed.

Anthony Edwards led the way with 30 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block, scoring 21 of those points in the first half to set the tone early.

Julius Randle was everywhere with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the triple-double, while newly acquired guard Ayo Dosunmu continued to impress with 21 points off the bench in just his second game with the team.

Gobert himself was efficient from the floor and said he felt the difference immediately. "It felt great... the ball was moving," he said. "I thought our focus was there."

The win moves Minnesota to 33-22 on the season, keeping them in playoff position in the Western Conference.

Gobert is averaging 10.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this season, and while he is not the one filling up the scoring column, his defensive presence and vocal leadership continue to shape the identity of the team.

Edwards, meanwhile, is putting up a career-best 29.7 points per game while shooting 40.7 percent from three.

The question now is whether this kind of effort becomes the norm or stays a one-night thing.

As Gobert pointed out, not every game will look as smooth as Monday's, but the willingness to move the ball and lock in on defense has to be there regardless.

The Wolves close out the pre-All-Star-break schedule on Wednesday when they host the Portland Trail Blazers.