![Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler (23) celebrated at the end of the game. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ ï cgonzalez@startribune.com ñ April 11, 2018, Minneapolis, MN, Target Center, NBA, Basketball, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/TQVIKHIDPUMO6WJKUKVPX24NPQ.jpg?&w=1080)
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler on Thursday made the All-NBA third team, the second time Timberwolves teammates have been all-league in the same season.
The Wolves previously have had only three players — Kevin Garnett eight times, Kevin Love twice and Sam Cassell once — make all-league teams. In 2003-04, Garnett was on the first team and Cassell on the second team. The Wolves made the playoffs this year for the first time since that season.
Towns, a third-year center who barely missed the honor last season, averaged 21.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, leading the NBA in double-doubles (68) and ranking fourth in rebound average. He owns the NBA's active ironman streak (246 consecutive games played) and was a Western Conference All-Star for the first time.
Towns, 22, is the first player in league history to have more than 5,000 points, 2,500 rebounds and 250 three-pointers in his first three seasons.
Butler, a 28-year-old guard/forward in his seventh NBA season but first with the Wolves following a draft-night trade, shot a career-high 47.4 percent, was fourth in the league in steals average (1.97, also a career best) and was on the NBA All-Defensive second team. The four-time All-Star averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. He was on the All-NBA third team once in Chicago in 2017.
The All-NBA first team included Cleveland forward LeBron James, Houston guard James Harden, New Orleans forward/center Anthony Davis, Portland guard Damian Lillard and Golden State forward Kevin Durant. Harden and James were unanimous choices; both got 100 first-team votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
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