For a third time in four matchups since the NBA changed the format of the Rising Stars Challenge, the World Team came away with a win. Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield scored a team-high 29 points in their 155-124 blowout win over USA.
Although Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma each went into the game with aspirations to represent the Los Angeles Lakers well and earn MVP honors, that instead went to the Kings’ Bogdanovic. Ingram started and had eight points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in just 12 minutes.
Kuzma logged 19 minutes off the bench, and found his rhythm in the fourth quarter to finish with 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Along with falling short of playing the 40 minutes he was hopeful for, Kuzma did not dunk on Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid as he planned.
After a competitive first quarter, the World began to pull away before halftime, sparked by a 3-point barrage from Bogdanovic. He made seven of 13 attempts from deep en route to scoring 26 points.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown was the standout star for Team USA, leading them with a game-high 35 points on an efficient 14-for-21 shooting. Kuzma and Brown’s Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum (15 points) were the only other Team USA players to score in double-figures.
All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles continues on Saturday with the Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest and Slam Dunk Competition.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE NEW LAKERS NATION FORUM CLUB
