15-02-2025
NBA Rising Stars: Keyonte George spoils G-League party with dagger 3 to advance to Sunday's All-Star tourney against LeBron James, Stephen Curry
A team of G-Leaguers threatened to crash Sunday's NBA All-Star party from Friday's Rising Stars tournament, but Chris Mullins' team of NBA players ultimately prevailed.
Team G-League, coached by Jeremy Lin, beat a team of young NBA stars coached by Mitch Richmond in the semifinals, then took a 12-8 lead against Mullins' team in the final, which was played to a target score of 25.
But Mullins' team found its shooting stroke and rode a 17-2 run to a 25-14 win to advance to Sunday's All-Star tournament. Second-year Jazz guard Keyonte George capped the run and the win with a transition 3-pointer on a pass from Spurs rookie Stephon Castle.
Keyonte George hits the DAGGER 🚨Team C wins the #CastrolRisingStars Final and moves on to #NBAAllStar Sunday ⭐️
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 15, 2025
Mullins' Team C will take on Team Shaq in the semifinals of Sunday's All-Star tournament in the NBA's latest effort to revise its All-Star format into something more competitive. Candace Parker will take over to coach the team on Sunday against O'Neal's team featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
Sunday's four-team tournament will mirror Friday's Rising Stars showcase that crowned one team out of four from a three-game mini tournament. Friday's games featured three teams of first- and second-year NBA players and a fourth made up of players from the G-League, who pulled off a stunner in the semifinals.
The three teams of NBA players were coached by the iconic former Warriors trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, who were collectively dubbed Run TMC during their late '80s and early '90s playing days together in Golden State.
Their teams were appropriately named Team T, Team M and Team C. Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin coached Team G-League which advanced to the final on Friday by beating Richmond's Team M in the semifinals. Friday's semifinal games were played to a target score of 40 points, while the final was a sprint to 25.
Team C's reward is a Sunday date with with a team dubbed Shaq's OGs featuring some of the best players of their era. Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving join James, Curry and Durant on Team Shaq.
In the second semifinal, Team G-League shocked Richmond's team of NBA players in a 40-39 win to advance to the final. Team G-League opened a 20-16 lead, then rallied from a 36-33 deficit to score the win. Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson missed four free throws on two separate trips to the stripe with his team leading 37-35.
The misses ultimately gave Team G-League a look at a game-winning 3, which Trail Blazers G-Leaguer Bryce McGowens hit despite shooting off-balance after getting Wizards rookie Bub Carrington to bite on a pump fake.
BRYCE MCGOWENS CLUTCH DAGGER 😤Team G League takes down Team M in the #CastrolRisingStars ⭐️
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 15, 2025
McGowens finished the game with 12 points, while Timberwolves G-Leaguer Leonard Miller led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Mullin's Team C beat Hardaway's Team T in the first game of the night with second-year. George leading the way. George scored a team-high 10 points while hitting 2 of his 4 3-point attempts in Team C's 40-34 win.
Castle sealed the win with a pull-up jumper from the elbow over rookie Wizards center Alex Sarr. Castle waved goodbye after hitting the shot.
Stephon Castle is touuuuuuugh
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) February 15, 2025
Rookie Raptors guard Gradey Dick led Team T with a game-high 12 points in the losing effort.
