NBA All-Star status no worry for Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns

PHOENIX – If the Timberwolves had started winning six of eight games before these past two weeks, there might be no doubt whether Karl-Anthony Towns plays in next month's All-Star Game.

But there is more than plenty.

That's because the Wolves' record still is 17-28 after Tuesday's 112-111 victory at Phoenix, even if Towns has racked up All-Star-worthy statistics, particularly in the past several weeks.

But in a game that's all about individual talent, NBA coaches who decide upon the East and West teams' seven reserves when in doubt lean toward choosing players who have helped their teams win big.

"Winning should always come first," Phoenix coach Earl Watson said. "Simple."

Watson and his coaching peers' ballots were due Tuesday. Their choices will be revealed Thursday evening before TNT's doubleheader coverage.

Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook's selection is guaranteed after fans worldwide, NBA players and media chose Houston's James Harden and Golden State's Stephen Curry to start in the backcourt.

Both Towns and Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said they won't spend much time or energy contemplating Towns' chances.

"I'm just more concerned about winning," Thibodeau said. "I think if we win, he'll be recognized, and the same thing with all our players. The more you win, the more recognition there is."

In time, there might be a place for Towns and teammates Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, if they together eventually form a team such as Golden State's.

Towns is certain to have a team to play for during All-Star weekend in New Orleans. On Wednesday, he was named to the U.S. team for the Rising Stars Challenge. The Friday night game features some of the NBA's best rookies and second-year players.

Philadelphia's Joel Embiid will lead the international team if he doesn't make the All-Star reserves.

"I don't know, that's up to them to decide," Towns said. "I just go out here every night and put my heart on the line, put everything I've got every single day into this court, into these shoes, into this game and organization. Whatever they choose, they choose.

"For me, I worry about coming every night and making sure I get us a 'W' as much as possible."

Wiggins made the buzzer-­beating shot — the first game-winner in his three-season NBA career — from the right corner Tuesday and beat the Suns by a point. He scored 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, after the Wolves led by as many as 14 points and trailed by 11.

Wiggins was the Wolves' star that night. Towns' 18-point, 10-rebound game was his 25th double-double in his past 27 games, but statistically it was less than average for a second-year player producing 22.4 points and 11.9 rebounds a game and whom Wiggins said is already deserving of All-Star status.

"He definitely is," Wiggins said. "He has been good all year."

"The way he has played, he is deserving when you look at it statistically," Thibodeau said. "But there are a number of guys who are in that category. There are going to be some guys left off who deserve to make it, so you're looking at all the other factors when you try to figure out who are the last guys going in.

"How does he impact winning for his team? That's usually what decides it."

Towns isn't about to argue. He's a guy who says he sends individual awards home to his parents' New Jersey house and only keeps with him team awards that reward winning, such as a ring he owns for Kentucky's 38-0 season start that ended two victories short of an NCAA title.