Wolves No. 5 in NBA draft picks

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves stayed put in the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night and will pick fifth in the first round on June 23.
 
     The Wolves entered the drawing with the fifth-best odds to land the No. 1 pick after winning the lottery a year ago. Their best chances were to drop down a spot to No. 6.
 
     But when NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum opened the envelope for the No. 5 pick, it revealed the Timberwolves logo.
 
     Rookie of the year Karl-Anthony Towns was the team’s representative on the dais for the event. He wore the wedding ring of the late Flip Saunders on a chain around his neck for good luck and kissed the ring before the results were revealed.
 
    All that losing has paid off for the Philadelphia 76ers.
 
     The Sixers have won the NBA lottery and will have the first pick in the upcoming draft. That puts them in position to take LSU’s Ben Simmons or Duke’s Brandon Ingram, the players most likely to be taken No. 1.
 
     The Sixers went into the lottery with the best chance to get the top overall pick at 26.9 percent after dismal 10-72 record this season.
 
     The Los Angeles Lakers have the second overall pick, followed by Boston, Phoenix and Minnesota.
 
     The draft is June 23 in New York.