NBA All-Star weekend: Rookies 148, Sophomores 140 (final)
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The Rookies defeated the Sophomores, 148-140, in a dunks-filled Rookie Challenge contest at Staples Center on Friday night.
Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins led the Rookies with 33 points, while Wizards guard John Wall handed out 22 assists. Wall was selected the game’s most valuable player.
The Thunder’s James Harden led the Sophomores with 30 points.
Clippers rookie star Blake Griffin finished with seven dunks in the game, including five in a seven-minute span in the second half. But with three minutes to go in the game a ‘We Want Blake!’ chant swept Staples Center as Griffin was on the bench. Despite the pleas, he did not return to the game.
Griffin’s most impressive dunk came after a Wall bounce pass that rose to the top of the backboard and Griffin grabbed on the way down before finishing with a right-handed slam. Griffin, who played only 13 minutes in the 40-minute game, scored his 14 points on dunks.
Griffin will compete in Saturday’s slam contest and will play in Sunday’s All-Star game. He was the only rookie to make the All-Star squad.
--Barry Stavro
