Rudy Gobert's petulance costs Timberwolves in loss to Raptors

With the game tied at 95-95 with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Gobert posted up Scottie Barnes and called for the ball. When Julius Randle declined to pass him the ball, Gobert took one of the slowest three-second violations you'll ever see, dragging his feet as he sulked his way out of the paint.

Teammate Anthony Edwards was quite displeased, shouting at Gobert on their way up the court. Then, after Barnes celebrated the turnover, Gobert hip-checked the Raptors star in the lane, giving him two free throws.

After the teams traded missed three-pointers, Randle tried to make up for snubbing the big man by passing to him. Gobert mishandled the pass for a turnover, which led to Barnes scoring again on the other end. Then, Barnes got a dunk off another turnover by the discombobulated Wolves.

The result of Gobert's petulant response was a sequence of three turnovers, two by him, and a 13-1 run by the Raptors — and a personal 6-0 run by Barnes — that gave Toronto a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Gobert got the lone point in that run, but he missed his second free throw.

It's not the first time Gobert has cost the Timberwolves a game with his temper. Last season, with his team leading by a point in the final seconds, Gobert fouled out of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then he made the "money sign" to the officials, implying they were paid off, even though the foul he committed was blatant.

Gobert got a technical foul and Cleveland made the free throw to tie the game and went on to win in overtime. Ultimately, that loss cost Minnesota the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

He also hurt the Timberwolves at the end of his first season on the team when he punched teammate Kyle Anderson in the final game of the season and got suspended from Minnesota's play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

It is ridiculous that Gobert is still acting out like this at age 32 in his 12th NBA season. It's equally ridiculous that what set him off was not getting the ball in the post. Gobert may be confident in his back-to-the-basket game, but he is decidedly bad at it. As much as he helps Minnesota's defense, he hurts its offense, committing almost as many turnovers (28) as assists (29). 

With the game out of reach in the final seconds, Randle whipped a pass inside to Gobert for what would have been a meaningless dunk. Gobert dropped the ball.