Grades: Rising Stars | Celebrity | Skills | 3s | Dunk
In the USA-versus-World format, the league's best, young stars took the court at Air Canada Centre, with Team USA topping the World 157-154. Here's our grades on how the youngsters fared north of the border.
TEAMS: U.S. | WORLD
U.S. TEAM
Devin Booker, Suns | Grade: B-
Stats: 23 PTS (9-13) | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: Booker, the only rookie with at least 50 attempts shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range, made 5-of-8 beyond the arc en route to 23 points. He gets docked a letter grade for Euro-fouling Andrew Wiggins to stop a fast break during the last two minutes of an exhibition game.
Jordan Clarkson, Lakers | Grade: B
Stats: 25 PTS (8-20) | 5 REB | 5 AST | 4 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: In hindsight, Clarkson making four of his first five attempts beyond the arc might have been a negative by emboldening him to fire up nine more 3s, making only one of them.
Rodney Hood, Jazz | Grade: B
Stats: 11 PTS (5-6) | 3 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: This isn't the right setting for Hood's smooth game to shine, and he was relatively quiet but hit 5 of 6 shots, including an end-to-end score.
Zach LaVine, Timberwolves | Grade: A
Stats: 30 PTS (13-20) | 7 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: The exhibition format is perfectly tailored to LaVine's skills, and the reigning dunk champion -- who will defend his crown Saturday night -- used slams and a pair of 3s to pile up a team-high 30 points, earning MVP honors for the winning U.S. team.
Jahlil Okafor, 76ers | Grade: A-
Stats: 13 PTS (6-7) | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: With few opportunities to showcase his post game, Okafor instead demonstrated his versatility by knocking down a 3 and handing out three assists in only 18 minutes.
Jabari Parker, Bucks | Grade: B+
Stats: 12 PTS (6-10) | 1 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK
Analysis: Parker made his 12 points count, including a late alley-oop from Clarkson and an impressive windmill dunk. Parker also went outside to make what should have been his first 3-pointer of 2015-16. The shot was officially ruled a 2-pointer.
Elfrid Payton, Magic | Grade: D
Stats: 0 PTS (0-2) | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: It's hard to prove from the box score that Payton played at all; he finished with just a rebound, a steal and a turnover in 16 minutes of unmemorable action.
D'Angelo Russell, Lakers | Grade: A
Stats: 22 PTS (9-15) | 1 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: Russell made the most of his 16 minutes, scoring 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting and handing out seven assists. Alas, spending the fourth quarter on the bench is nothing new for Russell this season.
Marcus Smart, Celtics | Grade: D+
Stats: 3 PTS (1-8) | 4 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: Since tough defense is Smart's game, it shouldn't be surprising that he struggled in an exhibition. Smart made the USA's first shot of the game, a 3-pointer, and missed his next seven, including an air ball from beyond the arc.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves | Grade: B
Stats: 18 PTS (8-15) | 7 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: The rookie of the year favorite took a while to find his place in the game but ultimately finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
WORLD TEAM
Bojan Bogdanovic, Nets | Grade: C-
Stats: 6 PTS (2-6) | 2 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: Despite getting the start, Bogdanovic played only 16 minutes and made a pair of 3s in six attempts for his only scoring.
Clint Capela, Rockets | Grade: B+
Stats: 12 PTS (6-9) | 7 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: Capela tried to flash some newfound versatility, attempting a 3-pointer and running the point at times. He unsurprisingly found more success near the hoop, making 6 of 8 2-point attempts and grabbing seven boards.
Mario Hezonja, Magic | Grade: B+
Stats: 19 PTS (8-19) | 10 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK
Analysis: The confident Hezonja felt at home in an exhibition and threatened a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. He gets docked for needing 19 shot attempts and turning the ball over four times.
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets | Grade: B
Stats: 12 PTS (6-10) | 8 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: Jokic was able to show off his playmaking skills in the open court, handing out four assists, and grabbed all eight of his rebounds on the offensive glass.
Trey Lyles, Jazz | Grade: D
Stats: 2 PTS (1-6) | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: The Canadian rookie played a game-low 12 minutes and missed five of his six shot attempts, including both of his 3s.
Emmanuel Mudiay, Nuggets | Grade: A
Stats: 30 PTS (12-20) | 3 REB | 10 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK
Analysis: Had the World team won, Mudiay would have had a strong MVP case after scoring 30 points and handing out 10 assists. Mudiay even showed 3-point range, knocking down five triples in 10 attempts.
Raul Neto, Jazz | Grade: B+
Stats: 2 PTS (1-1) | 1 REB | 9 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: In 18 minutes, Neto took only one shot. He knew his role was to set up teammates, and he did that successfully with nine assists against only one turnover.
Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks | Grade: A
Stats: 30 PTS (12-16) | 5 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK
Analysis: Porzingis has shot an average 34.9 percent beyond the arc as a rookie, but he had the range Friday, making five 3s in eight attempts en route to 30 points. One of Porzingis' misses came from the edge of the All-Star logo at midcourt, or nearly out to Mississauga. Alas, Porzingis' fourth-quarter heroics weren't enough to get the World team a win.
Dwight Powell, Mavericks | Grade: B+
Stats: 12 PTS (6-9) | 11 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: The Toronto native acquitted himself nicely among bigger names, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 boards in 16 minutes, including an impressive tip dunk.
Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves | Grade: A
Stats: 29 PTS (13-15) | 2 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK
Analysis: The hometown favorite drew "MVP" chants from fans as he made key plays down the stretch. Wiggins had seven points in the final minute and 40 seconds of a vain comeback attempt, including a highlight tip dunk, to finish the night with 29 points on 13-of-15 shooting.