NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Jamal Murray scored 36 points and Buddy Hield, a New Orleans Pelicans rookie, added 28 to the delight of the locals as the World squad beat the U.S. 150-141 on Friday night in the Rising Stars Challenge.
The game featuring top rookies and second-year pros is the main event on the first night of NBA All-Star weekend.
Murray, a Canadian and Denver Nuggets rookie out of Kentucky, went 9 of 14 on 3-pointers and was voted the game’s MVP.
Hield, a Bahamian, was 11-of-22 shooting overall, but just 3 of 12 from deep.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks added 24 points.
Frank Kaminsky of the Charlotte Hornets scored 33 for the U.S. team and Karl-Anthony Towns added 24, highlighted by his dunk of Devin Booker’s half-court lob.
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Murray, Towns, Booker and Trey Lyles are just four of nine former Kentucky players involved in All-Star festivities.
NBA All-Star Weekend Events
Saturday, Feb. 18
NBA D-League All-Star Game (2:30 p.m. ET | NBA TV) – Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress
Taco Bell Skills Challenge (8 p.m. ET | TNT) – Booker, Boogie Cousins, Anthony Davis, John Wall
Sunday, Feb. 19
NBA All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET | TNT) – Cousins, Davis, Wall
