Although it was boring, the NBA Rising Stars Challenge performance put up by Kristaps Porzingis was still better than a Knicks game.
It was boring. It was awful. It was even goofy, as it always is.
The NBA Rising Stars Challenge was no different in 2017 than it is every single season.
In the end, it was the World Team who coasted past the U.S. Team by the final of 150-144. Jamal Murray, the Canadian, led the way with 36 points while capturing MVP honors. Buddy Hield wasn’t too far off that pace with 28 of his own.
New York Knicks phenom Kristaps Porzingis poured in 24 points on 11-of-16 from the floor while chipping in with 10 rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes.
7'3" with this range? Kristaps is a ?.@adidasHoops #BBVARisingStars pic.twitter.com/Pv95pLe7mN
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Great game @kporzee ? #NBAAllStar #NYKtoNOLA #Knicks pic.twitter.com/R7swlxu0US
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 18, 2017
Boring? No defense? Yes, to both of those questions. But hey, it was still better than a Knicks game.
Watching KP, the future of the organization, showcase his talent in a non-entity of a basketball event brings long much more pleasure than the daily muck Phil Jackson‘s squad brings to the table. It could even be argued there was more defense in the Rising Stars game than you average Knickerbockers contest.
The other man who participated in the game on Friday night was Willy Hernangomez. He finished the night with two points and six boards on the night, but his lone bucket came in style:
Hernangomez catches the oop! #BBVARisingStars pic.twitter.com/ILTgCCadCJ
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Here are a few highlights from the horribly played game:
The top plays from the 2017 #BBVARisingStars challenge!
World Team defeats US Team 150-141 on Jamal Murray's 36 points on 9 3PM! pic.twitter.com/pNBLlTXLFh
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Brogdon finds Simmons for the #AssistOfTheNight#BBVARisingStars pic.twitter.com/q0FOK9rdgq
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Murray catches ? and takes the MVP! #BBVARisingStars pic.twitter.com/loAh1MXtKg
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Jamal was unconscious. #BBVARisingStars pic.twitter.com/9K5T3NVDns
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
FINAL: World Team tops US Team 150-141!
Murray: 36 PTS (9-14 3PT)
Hield: 28 PTS
Kaminsky: 27 PTS
Porzingis: 24 PTS#NBAGIF pic.twitter.com/2r6gzKphRv— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Jonathan Simmons don't play. #BBVARisingStars pic.twitter.com/RLOBL1H53O
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Jamal Murray goes HIGH for Buddy Hield!#BBVARisingStars @adidashoops pic.twitter.com/bdOB3y7FmE
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017
Point Jokic. #BBVARisingStars @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/DmAKvFBSu3
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2017