The Minnesota Timberwolves acknowledged the need to improve late-game execution and decision-making down the stretch of games after last season’s loss in the Western Conference Finals, and work certainly still remains.

After a brutal start to the game Sunday night against the Miami Heat, the Wolves rebounded, only to blow it down the stretch with more poor decision-making and shooting.

Minnesota shot just 26.9% in the first quarter against the Heat, who got out and ran, giving the Timberwolves problems on both sides of the ball. However, the Wolves righted the ship and trailed by just one at the half, then jumped in front by eight with a 15-0 run late in the third quarter.

With the team locked in defensively and generating better offense, as has become typical this season, with good ball movement and shooting, the Wolves looked to have the game in hand. Then, they were outscored 15-6 over the final 4:15, Miami’s final three coming on an inbounds play that inexplicably resulted in an and-one to jump in front of the Wolves by a point with Rudy Gobert, for some reason, on the bench.

Sure, it’s only the 10th game of the season, and both the players and head coach Chris Finch are still trying to adjust to each other, but it was a rough way to give away a winnable game.

Anthony Edwards scored a team-high 22 points but on just 8-of-24 shooting and 4-of-14 from distance, a rare off-night for him so far this season. Tyler Herro led the Jimmy Butler-less Heat with 26 points.

Fortunately for Minnesota, the Wolves now head to Portland for back-to-back games against the lowly Trail Blazers, whom the Timberwolves just beat on Friday. The first of those games, on Tuesday, will be part of the NBA Cup tournament.