Gobert has found a kinship with Randle, who was a career 34-percent shooter in the playoffs in his career before emerging as the offensive stabilizer in his first season in Minnesota. Randle averaged 22.6 points per game in the series and shot 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3.

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ center has been a perennial target for smack talk, but in the N.B.A. playoffs he delivers a masterclass in clapping back.

On Wednesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 103-96. Rudy Gobert was the star of the game, finishing with 27 points,