CLEVELAND (AP) — The No. 1 overall pick in the draft has claimed top honors again.
Rookie Cade Cunningham, whom the Pistons are counting on to return to the limelight, was named the Rising All-Star Showdown MVP Friday for helping Team Barry beat Team Isiah 25-20.
This is one of the events prior to the NBA All-Star Game.
Cunningham, who had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds in the night’s opener, had only five in the final but made big contributions, including a crucial 3-pointer.
Cunningham also sent a great inside pass that led to a free throw by the Magic’s Franz Wagner of Germany that sealed the victory for Team Barry.
When he was presented with the MVP trophy at midcourt, Cunningham was booed by the Cleveland crowd, who wanted the award to go to Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley.
Mobley was decisive in the victory of Team Barry, for whom he scored 18 points —including 12 with dunks— in the two games.
The Rising Stars competition is one of the All-Star Game Weekend competitions. Traditionally, rookies were pitted against sophomores.
This year, the format was changed to a three-match mini-tournament between four teams.
The “semifinals” were played to 50 points and the final to 25, for the 75th anniversary of the NBA. The teams’ coaches were Isiah Thomas, James Worthy, Rick Barry and Gary Payton, who were once All-Star nominees.
In the first game, Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane made two free throws that sealed Team Isaiah’s 50-49 victory over Team Worthy.
The second duel was also very close. The Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate hit an acrobatic layup as Team Barry outscored Team Payton 50-48.
Due to an almost non-existent defense, the players took flight scoring with dunks and full spins, and making dribbles to the delight of the fans that packed the stage.
In a flashy play in the first meeting between Team Isaiah and Team Worthy, Magic rookie Jelen Suggs opted not to score a layup and bounced the ball off the backboard as a pass for Orlando teammate Cole Anthony will spike the ball into the rim.
The 6-foot-6 Anthony will be one of four entrants in Saturday’s dunk competition.
Moments after his dunk, Anthony flipped as Suggs hit a shot that would have resulted in a game-winning free throw but the ball bounced off the rim.