Karl-Anthony Towns, Wolves keep improving together

The Timberwolves' recent four-game slide has all but removed them from the playoff chase — they trail the Denver Nuggets by 5½ games for the eighth playoff spot with 12 to go — there is no question part of the Wolves' drastically improved play after the All-Star break can be attributed to second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns' stellar all-around play.

While the Wolves had another tough loss to San Antonio on Tuesday, falling 100-93 in a game they could have won, Towns was once again the exceptional player on the court and one of the key reasons the Wolves were in the contest. He finished with 25 points, including 15 in the second half, and 14 rebounds.

It was just another in a long line of amazing performances by him this year.

In the long history of the NBA, only one player at the age of 21 has averaged more than 24 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field. That was Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal in 1993-94. Now Towns is on pace to join O'Neal, averaging 24.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and shooting 53.4 percent from the field.

The Wolves' greatly improved play in the second half and Towns' continued growth should set the stage for a great second year under coach Tom Thibodeau next season, the first time in five years that Towns will get to work under the same coach for two seasons in a row.

Towns was recently asked if he ever thought he could ascend this quickly to being one of the best players in the NBA after he decided to leave the University of Kentucky after one season.

"I worked hard, so I felt that I could do really well and I felt that as long as I put the work in, things would go my way," Towns said. "I'm just happy I'm able to contribute to the team's success and be able to help."

When asked how he accounts for such drastic improvements, Towns said most of it is mental.

"I'm just smarter," he said. "I'm smarter with the ball in my hands than last year. I take my time more than last year as well. I'm really happy that I was able to grow from last year and next year and the year after, I have to get better and better and better."

When asked who he credits the most for developing his game, Towns immediately brought up his dad, Karl Sr.

"My father gave me everything I needed to be a great basketball player — morals, values, skill set — the way I play today is the same way he taught me when I was a young boy," he said. "I'm just glad I'm able to use everything to my advantage."

His father was a coach at Piscataway Technical High School in New Jersey, and Towns said his dad was immediately ready to teach him.

When Towns worked under John Calipari at Kentucky, he said that level of coaching added some of the unique elements to his game that has made him so tough to guard in the pros.

"Absolutely, Kentucky taught me really how to help my game in the post and help me in the NBA to be as versatile as possible," he said. "Taking that teaching has really helped me a lot."

And how about his first year under Thibodeau?

"Coach Thibs has helped me a lot," he said. "What he did has meant volumes for this year and helped me tremendously as a player and the more and more we get used to each other, the more we're going to get better."

And while the Wolves have improved in a number of areas, this will be their 13th consecutive season without a playoff appearance. When asked what separates the Wolves' good victories from their bad losses, Towns talked about what he has observed from the best opponents.

For the Wolves to take the next step, they're simply going to have to be more consistent from Game 1 to Game 82. But they have to feel good knowing the ever-improving Towns will help lead them in trying to get back to the postseason.

Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino wasn't bitter about the team's 81-72 loss to Middle Tennessee last Thursday in the first round of NCAA tournament, but he did say there was no doubt the team was hampered without senior guard and captain Akeem Springs on the floor.

"I hate to use the excuse of injuries, but the Akeem injury really hurt us," he said. "It just took a toll on us, unfortunately, with a Middle Tennessee team that has a lot of depth. The way they play wears you down offensively and defensively. Give them a lot of credit.

"It's disappointing the way it ended for us. But I know we're going to look back and be extremely proud of a really, really good year obviously for us."

• Former Twins pitcher and current Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven was the pitching coach for the Netherlands team that lost to Puerto Rico 4-3 in 11 innings in the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

• Sam Huff, a forward from Maple Grove, has given the Gophers hockey team a verbal commitment. … Gophers hockey recruit Casey Mittelstadt of Eden Prairie was named one of the USHL players of the week with two goals and four assists in three games in his return to the Green Bay Gamblers after his high school season ended.

Sid Hartman can be heard Mondays and Fridays on WCCO AM-830 at 8:40 a.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. E-mail: shartman@startribune.com