Slam dunks and three-pointers were the order of the day and defense disappeared completely as Team USA outgunned Team World 161-144 in the NBA Rising Stars game on Friday night.
Los Angeles Lakers player Kyle Kuzma scored a game-high 35 points and was named MVP of the contest, which features the league’s top first and second-year players and opens the NBA All-Star festivities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kuzma went 15-27 from the field and had six rebounds, while Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum added 30 points for Team USA.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The teams combined for 37 three-pointers, 55 dunks and shot a total of just 12 free throws.
“Last year, the World team kicked our butts,” Kuzma said. “They came in here and beat us by 30. A lot of us kind of remembered that.”
Atlanta’s Trae Young finished with 25 points and 10 assists, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox had 15 assists and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell added 20 points and nine assists.
Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers led the World team with 28 points. Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen had 21 points and Dallas’ Luka Doncic had 13 points and nine assists for the World team, whose players came from 10 different nations.
“As you can see, not much defense. Guys just want to get up and play,” World guard Simmons said. “It’s good to get out there and just get up and down with guys you don’t normally go up and down with.”
Rookie guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada scored 15 points.
This was the fifth year of the US against World format. The World team lead the all-time series 3-2.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
RSS