D’Angelo Russell were traded to the Lakers at the deadline on Feb. 9. “It’s almost like a March Madness-type of feel. Win or go home. That’s how we viewed it.”

The Lakers had only one day to prepare to face Minnesota, and their focus on the task at hand was evident after their practice and video session Monday at their training facility. They spoke at length about improving their defensive play and the unique nature of the play-in tournament.

They did not wish to speak about the tumult surrounding the Timberwolves.

Minnesota on Monday suspended center Rudy Gobert for tonight’s game after Gobert slugged teammate Kyle Anderson as a verbal altercation escalated into a physical one during a second-quarter timeout in the Timberwolves’ victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in their regular-season finale Sunday.

The Timberwolves also will be without power forward Jaden McDaniels, who fractured his right hand after punching a wall in frustration in a tunnel leading from the court to the Minnesota locker room. McDaniels’ hand was placed in a cast Monday and he’s said to be out indefinitely.

“I don’t think it’s a distraction,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “It’s not Lakers business and we’re all focused on Lakers business. It’s an unfortunate situation, but I really don’t have an opinion on it. We’re just focused on trying to be the best version of ourselves and what we’ve got to do. It’s not about who we’re playing. It’s about how we play and putting our best foot forward.”

The absence of two of the Timberwolves’ more muscular players opens the possibility for more aggressive play from the Lakers at the Minnesota rim. Ham resisted any notion that the loss of Gobert and McDaniels would alter the Lakers’ game plan going into tonight’s game, however.

“It’s all about us,” Ham said. “I repeat, it’s not Lakers business. It’s an unfortunate situation, but we’ve got to prepare to be the best version of ourselves and make sure we come out with the right energy, the right urgency, the right effort and be the most competitive and together team for 48 minutes.”

Anthony Davis said the Lakers would lean on the former Timberwolves for advice in how they prepare to face Minnesota, three valuable sources of information going into the play-in game. The Lakers also need a full effort from their supporting cast if they hope to win and avoid a second play-in game.

It can’t be all about Davis and LeBron James if the Lakers want to be one-and-done with the play-in tournament.

“They (Russell, Beasley and Vanderbilt) are a big reason why we are where we are today,” Davis said. “Beasley with his shooting, ‘D’Lo’ playmaking, ‘Vando’ has taken so many guys out defensively, making sure that he’s a monster on the ball or off the ball and his offensive rebounding (too).”

Injury report

James, Davis and Russell are all listed as “probable” for the play-in game. Veteran guard Dennis Schröder is no longer on the injury report after missing the past two games. Schröder was listed with right Achilles soreness on Sunday, but he missed Friday’s game with “extreme neck soreness.”