Scoreboard
Game 1: Team Isiah 50, Team Worthy 49
Game 2: Team Barry 50, Team Payton 48
Final: Team Barry 25, Team Isiah 20
What went down
Team Barry took home the Clorox Rising Stars trophy after beating Team Isiah in the final game, 25-20.
Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Jae’Sean Tate had five points each to spearhead the win. Rounding up the seven-man crew were Isaac Okoro, Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, and NBA G League’s Dyson Daniels.
Wagner finished the game at the line, capping off a 13-2 run to secure the victory. Cunningham, who scored 13 points in the first game, earned MVP honors.
In the first game, Desmond Bane gave Team Isiah the 50-49 win over Team Worthy with a pair of clutch free throws. Meanwhile, Tate’s hard up-and-under drive was the decider in Team Barry’s 50-48 victory against Team Payton.
The new format of the Rising Stars consisted of three short games with the winners of the first two games (race to 50 points) going head-to-head for the finals (race to 25 points). Twelve rookies, 12 sophomores, and four players from NBA G League Ignite were divided into four teams with seven players each.
NBA 75th Anniversary Team members Rick Barry, Gary Payton, James Worthy, and Isiah Thomas drafted the players and served as honorary coaches.
Big-time baller
Cunningham filled the stat sheet in the first game with 13 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. In the clincher, he had five points, two boards, and three dimes. He also delivered the late triple to create separation for his team. The No. 1 overall pick did a little bit of everything en route to his MVP award.
CADE COMES UP CLUTCH 🥶 pic.twitter.com/cKdDpoeGou
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2022
What he said
Don’t you just miss The Glove and his non-stop talking? Honorary coach Gary Payton made sure that the referees knew he was serious about winning.
Gary Payton was trash talking the ref from the bench 😂 pic.twitter.com/RJ5t4gfEDL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2022
Did you see that?
Before the finale of the Rising Stars, a timed shooting competition called the Clorox Clutch Challenge took place. Four teams of two players had to complete shots from five spots representing the following iconic shots from the NBA Playoffs:
Charles Barkley’s top of the key
Ray Allen’s right corner 3
Magic Johnson’s baby hook
Damian Lillard’s logo 3
Reggie Miller’s right wing 3
Desmond Bane and Tyrese Haliburton smoked the competition and displayed lights-out marksmanship.
Tyrese Haliburton and Desmond Bane finish in under 40 seconds to win the #CloroxClutch Challenge! pic.twitter.com/cuTNrmnciC
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2022
In the Ruffles Celebrity Game, Team Walton triumphed over Team Nique, 65-51, with Peloton instructor Alex Toussaint coming away with the MVP.
The stars came out to hoop in the #RufflesCelebGame!
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2022
Myles Garrett and Gianmarco Tamberi were throwing down dunks for Team Nique but Alex Toussaint rode away with the MVP and the victory for Team Walton! pic.twitter.com/lkSGqZ9qFy
