Zach LaVine had 30 points and seven rebounds as a US team beat a World team 157-154 in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night to start the NBA’s All-Star weekend.
In the game featuring some of the best rookies and sophomores in the league, LaVine geared up to defend his slam dunk title last night by making 13 of 20 shots to beat Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Andrew Wiggins. LaVine was selected the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, while Emmanuel Mudiay had 30 points and 10 assists for the World team. Wiggins scored 29 points, playing in front of his hometown fans.
Photo: AP
Los Angeles Lakers sophomore Jordan Clarkson added 25 for the US.
The Rising Stars game can sometimes take on the feel of a sideshow, something that forces the next generation into a spotlight that they are not always ready for. However the court was loaded with talent, with players such as Wiggins, Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Elfrid Payton and Jabari Parker.
The influx of talent has given several long-suffering franchises — the Timberwolves, the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks — hope that better days are arriving soon.
For most fans in attendance, Wiggins was the star attraction. He has been churning out highlight reels since he was 14 years old, was drafted No. 1 overall last season and won the Rookie of the Year award.
Locals call him “Maple Jordan” and openly pine for him to one day come home and play for the Toronto Raptors.
Wiggins has said that he loves playing in Minnesota and envisions a long and bright future with Towns, LaVine and the rest of the Timberwolves’ promising young core. However, he has never shied away from his love of Toronto and said he was looking forward to being back in Canada for an extended stretch over the weekend.
Porzingis, the Latvian who captivated the Big Apple and helped revive the Knicks, hit five of eight three-pointers and threw down an alley-oop midway through the second half. Mudiay, the Nuggets rookie who has struggled with his shot this season, hit five of 10 from deep.
Phoenix Suns rookie Devin Booker scored 23 points, while Towns had 18 for the US.
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