Miles Bridges #0 of Team USA holds Most Valuable Player trophy after his team beat Team World 151-131 in the NBA Rising Stars game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
Team USA 151-131 Team World
The NBA Rising Stars game for this year's All-Star Weekend ended victorious for Team USA at the United Center in Chicago on Friday. It was the sixth game of such since the league decided to introduce the mechanism of Team USA vs. Team World in 2015. Thanks to the latest win, USA and World are now 3-3 in general score.
Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets was named MVP of the game and he deserved the award. It was him, Devonte' Graham and P.J. Washington who led a 25-5 run in the third quarter to help Team USA overcome a 12-point trail (98-86) and regain the lead (111-103) in less than four minutes.
Miles Bridges #0 of Team USA leaps to dunk in the NABA Rising Stars game against Team World at the United Center, February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
Bridges drained three triples and finished one dunk to drop 16 points during this period, but his efforts did not stop there. At 1:08 of the third quarter, the 21-year-old finished an off-the-backboard, single-handed self alley-hoop to covey salute to former Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady.
"We wanted to come out and play hard in the Rising Stars and show what Charlotte is about – me, Devonte' (Graham) and P.J. (Washington). And that's what we did. I didn't have any extra motivation, really, I wouldn't say that. But MJ putting Chicago on the map, it definitely plays a big part, though," said Bridges after the game.
Zion Williamson #1 of Team USA leaps to dunk in the NABA Rising Stars game against Team World at the United Center, February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
Playing the Rising Stars Game was never easy because players need to find the balance between making it fun and playing it to win. A lot of All-Star players did not know how to do it, let alone the first- and second-year rookies.
The biggest names on Friday, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Ja Morant and Zion Williamson did the fun part well. For example, Morant connected with Williamson three times to present great dunks – Williamson even bent the rim finishing one of the dunks.
Luka Doncic (L) of Team World and Trae Young (R) of Team USA celebrate together after Doncic burying a back-court 3-pointer in the NBA Rising Stars game at the United Center, February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
In his last shot in the second quarter, Doncic buried a back-court 3-pointer. After he did that, he both he and Young were as excited as kids.
Nonetheless, most of the above happened in the first half before the two sides grew serious about the game.
Team World began to play for real from the third quarter by enhancing their defense and focusing on attacking the rim. Their efforts worked and soon expanded the lead to 12 points before Bridges and his Hornets teammates made a 3-pointer storm at the United Center.
The two sides again lost their seriousness in the fourth quarter and Team USA soon established a 20+point lead, turning the game into a blowout.
Rapper, actor and activist Common of Team Wilbon holds the NBA Celebrity game Most Valuable player trophy after his team beat Team Stephen A. 62-47 at the United Center, February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
In the celebrity game earlier, Team Wilbon beat Team Stephen A. 62-47. Rapper, actor and activist Common put down 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals to win the MVP award of the game.
The most competitive parts of the All-Star Weekend, Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest will happen on Saturday.