This year’s Rising Stars Challenge had intentional fouls!
Advertisement
But as it tends to be, the game itself was merely a glorified scrimmage with any and all defense clearly getting stuck in customs between the United States and Canada border.
“I’m excited for tomorrow”, said LaVine, who revived interest in the dunk contest with an electrifying performance previous year. This brings them closer to the orbit of that one guy who’s six inches taller than the others at your weekly run, the dude who played Division I ball and kinda maybe sorta held his own.
Wiggins has stated time and again that he loves it in Minnesota and envisions a long and bright future with Towns, LaVine and the rest of the Timberwolves’ promising young core.
In the grand scheme of professional basketball, the Rising Stars game barely registers. Team USA took a timeout to avoid a five-second call on an inbounds pass, and Team World fouled to extend the game on the proceeding play.
“I mean, we were just going out there and just having fun”, Clarkson said.
We could very well see Okafor back in this game next season, as he will still be an up-and-coming player who is hopefully scoring big buckets for the Sixers.
Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay of the Democratic Republic of the Congo led the World team with 30 points and 10 assists while New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis poured in 30 points.
Andrew Wiggins added 29 points for the World and guard/forward Mario Hezonja had 19 points and 10 rebounds while center Nikola Jokic had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Jabari will be joined on Team USA by the Lakers D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor, Rodney Hood from Utah, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Elfrid Payton of the Orlando Magic and Boston’s Marcus Smart.
On the game, the World shot 60.4 percent from the floor and the US team shot 56 percent. And replay reviews! As the game ticked down into the last few minutes, a pecking order emerged.
Advertisement
LaVine, a graduate of Bothell High School who will defend his league slam-dunk title on Saturday, made 13 of 20 shots from the field.
