Conley’s Minnesota Timberwolves were in Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 27, Dončić’s sixth game in a Lakers uniform. Even though Dončić wasn’t particularly sharp, the Lakers cruised to a 111-102 victory. Long after the visiting locker room cleared out,

Rudy Gobert had playoff career highs of 27 points and 24 rebounds, Julius Randle added 23 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced in the NBA playoffs with a 103-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Almost 11 months ago to the day, Rudy Gobert became the punchline to a biting NBA joke. His status in the league, questioned. His four Defensive Player of the Year honors, discredited. His ability to thrive in the postseason, nearly universally rejected.