Wolves rookie Towns wins Skills Competition

TORONTO (AP) - Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns offered some more proof that the NBA big man is no longer a plodding post player by winning the Skills Challenge on Saturday night as part of the league's All-Star weekend.

The 6-foot-11 Towns beat Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas to further validate the evolution of players at the forward and center positions into playmakers.

In the first year that frontcourt players were allowed to compete against the guards in an event that combines dribbling, passing and perimeter shooting, Towns beat Golden State's Draymond Green and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins in the big men side of the bracket before edging Thomas in the finals.

"I'm glad I was able to help the bigs come out with this trophy," said Towns, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.

"This is bigger than me. This is for all the bigs out there, with the game changing the way it is, to show that bigs can stand up with guards and skillwise."