Pair of Kings deal U.S. fourth loss in row
LOS ANGELES — Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic got All-star Weekend off to a running start in the World’s latest victory over the NBA’S young Americans.
Hield scored 29 points with five 3-pointers, and his Sacramento
Kings teammate won the MVP award with 26 points, including seven 3-pointers, in the World team’s 155-124 victory over the U.S. team in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday.
The annual showcase of the NBA’S top rookies and second-year players again served as the opening to the three-day All-star festivities, which are being held in Los Angeles for the record sixth time.
But this show was headlined by two shooting stars from the upstate rivals of the hometown Lakers and Clippers, with Hield and Bogdanovic combining to hit 12 of the World’s 23 3-pointers. The World has won this All-star showcase four consecutive times.
The 10-man American team struggled to keep up with the 10-man team representing everywhere else, from Canada to Croatia to Cameroon. Eight of the World’s 10 players scored in double figures, including 21 from Denver’s Jamal Murray, the Canadian MVP of this game last season with 36 points.
Boston’s Jaylen Brown led the U.S. with 35 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma, the hometown Lakers’ promising rookie, added 20.
Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons also was sharp in his rookie debut in the game, with the Aussie No. 1 pick contributing 11 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and four steals while catalyzing the World’s offense.
Hield, who is from the Bahamas, will be sorry to see the end of his eligibility for this game, in which he scored 28 points last season in New Orleans as a rookie with the Pelicans. The sweet-shooting Kings guard hit five 3-pointers.
Bogdanovic, from Serbia, was even better from long range, going 7-for-13 on 3-pointers.
Celebrity Game
Quavo is known for dropping beats and delivering rhymes as onethird of Atlanta’s hip-hop trio Migos.
He also can make buckets on the basketball court.
Quavo was named MVP after scoring a game-high 19 points to lead Team Clippers to a 75-66 win over Team Lakers in the NBA All-star Celebrity Game.
Showcasing a smooth shot and ability to drive to the basket, Quavo finished 7 of 10 from the field. He also had five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Andre De Grasse, the Canadian sprinter who won a silver medal in the 200 meters and bronze in the 100 at the Rio Olympics in 2016, had 17 points and six rebounds for Team Clippers.
TV host Rachel Demita, a McDonald’s All-american who played at Old Dominion, led Team Lakers with 17 points.