Last season at this time, the Timberwolves were going through the awkward getting-to-know-you-phase in the aftermath of trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. It took about three months.

Losing Anthony Edwards early in a game then, as the Wolves did Sunday night when he left after only three minutes because of right hamstring tightness, might have meant a long night.

But a year later, the familiarity with which the Wolves now have playing with one another — and Julius Randle’s comfort in his role here — helped the Wolves pull out a 114-110 victory over the shorthanded but still feisty Indiana Pacers.

When Edwards went out, Randle knew exactly what to do. He had hit his first two shots before Edwards’ exit, and he felt comfortable handling the role of primary scorer with 31 points.

“We don’t have to overreact, just do what we’ve been doing,” Randle said.

Wolves star Anthony Edwards sits on the bench out of uniform in the second quarter after being pulled from Sunday night’s game only minutes into it. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

“Naturally, the ball is going to find me a little bit more,” he continued. “So, it doesn’t change my mentality as far as trying to play the right way and make the right play. If they’re guarding me straight up, try to score. If they get in the gaps, help or double team, trust my teammates.”

Randle makes that all sound simple, but getting to this point was a laborious one. It took those early struggles to feel out his role, and when he sat out for weeks because of a groin injury, he identified where he could make his impact as a playmaker in the offense. That catapulted to the best postseason basketball of his career in the two series the Wolves won, and on nights like Sunday, Randle’s comfort — and the team’s comfort around him — enabled the Wolves to get a victory when Edwards left.

“Just playing quicker and more decisive basketball,” Randle said. “Understanding my sweet spots for this team, and I think guys are doing a great job of, when I get double teamed in the post, finding space. Just stuff like that. I think the biggest thing is being quick, decsiive and not holding the ball as much.”