2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenge - Team World 155, Team USA 124

The 2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenge was played on February 16, 2018, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. Team World defeated Team USA 155-124 in a commanding 31-point victory, continuing the international team's success in the USA-versus-World format introduced in 2015.

Sacramento Kings rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic earned Most Valuable Player honors with 26 points, six assists and four rebounds. The Serbian guard made nine of 16 field-goal attempts, including seven of 13 three-pointers. His outside shooting helped Team World establish control of the game and maintain a substantial lead throughout the second half.

Bogdanovic's MVP performance was particularly notable because he had entered the NBA as an experienced international player rather than a traditional young college prospect. Sacramento originally acquired his NBA rights in 2016, and he joined the Kings for the 2017-18 season after a successful professional career in Europe.

Fellow Sacramento guard Buddy Hield led Team World in scoring with 29 points, making 12 of 22 field-goal attempts and five three-pointers. Hield added three rebounds, three assists and two steals. The two Kings guards combined for 55 points and 12 made three-pointers.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, the MVP of the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge, contributed 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Murray made three three-pointers and helped keep the international team's offense moving with his passing and transition play.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric added 18 points and five assists, shooting seven-for-11 from the field and four-for-seven from three-point range. Chicago Bulls rookie Lauri Markkanen scored 15 points and collected six rebounds.

Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis delivered one of the game's most efficient performances, scoring 13 points on perfect six-for-six field-goal shooting. Sabonis also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, including nine defensive rebounds.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons recorded 11 points, six rebounds and a game-high 13 assists. Simmons made all five of his field-goal attempts and contributed four steals, demonstrating the versatility that made him one of the NBA's most highly regarded young players.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Dillon Brooks contributed 11 points and five rebounds, while New York Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina added six points, five assists and three steals. Philadelphia center Joel Embiid played fewer than nine minutes and scored five points, making one three-pointer.

Team USA was led by Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, who scored a game-high 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Brown shot 14-for-21 from the field, made three three-pointers and converted all four free throws. His performance was one of the evening's strongest individual efforts despite the lopsided final score.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds while playing in his home arena. Kuzma made nine of 18 field-goal attempts and two three-pointers, providing the American team with additional offensive production.

Boston Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum contributed 15 points, four rebounds and two assists. Atlanta Hawks rookie John Collins scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds, while Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn finished with nine points, five assists and three steals.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram and Atlanta Hawks forward Taurean Prince scored eight points each. Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell contributed seven points, seven assists, five steals and two blocked shots, showing his defensive activity even though he struggled with his shooting.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Dennis Smith Jr. added seven points and six assists, while Sacramento Kings rookie De'Aaron Fox scored four points.

Team World opened the game with a 40-32 advantage after the first quarter and extended the lead by outscoring Team USA 38-27 in the second. The international team entered halftime ahead 78-59.

Team World continued to dominate in the third quarter, outscoring Team USA 40-29 to build a 118-88 lead entering the fourth. Team USA narrowly won the final period 36-37, but the deficit was far too large to overcome.

The international team shot 58.7 percent from the field and connected on 23 of 56 three-point attempts, compared with 51.4 percent shooting and 11 made three-pointers for Team USA. Team World also distributed 45 assists, demonstrating the passing and ball movement that helped produce its 155 points.

The 2018 game featured several players who would go on to become NBA All-Stars, including Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Domantas Sabonis, Lauri Markkanen and Jamal Murray.

The 31-point victory represented one of the largest margins in Rising Stars Challenge history. It also gave Team World its third win in four games since the NBA adopted the international format.

Date: February 16, 2018
Arena: Staples Center
Location: Los Angeles, California
Final Score: Team World 155, Team USA 124
Halftime: Team World 78, Team USA 59
Second Half: Team World 77, Team USA 65
Winning Margin: 31 points
Combined Points: 279
Most Valuable Player: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings
MVP Statistics: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
MVP Shooting: 9-16 FG, 7-13 3PT, 1-2 FT
Leading Scorer: Jaylen Brown, 35 points
Leading Rebounder: Domantas Sabonis, 11 rebounds
Leading Assists: Ben Simmons, 13 assists
Team World Head Coach: Rex Kalamian
Team USA Head Coach: Roy Rogers
Officials: Tyler Ford, Dedric Taylor, Lauren Holtkamp
Game Format: USA vs. World

Head Coach: Rex Kalamian | Result: Won 155-124

Team World shooting: 58.7% FG, 41.1% 3PT, 66.7% FT. Player rebounds: 50. Team rebounds: 5. Total rebounds including team rebounds: 55.

Head Coach: Roy Rogers | Result: Lost 155-124

Team USA shooting: 51.4% FG, 27.5% 3PT, 83.3% FT. Player rebounds: 38. Team rebounds: 6. Total rebounds including team rebounds: 44.

Roster changes: Taurean Prince replaced injured Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon. De'Aaron Fox replaced injured Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball.

Bogdan Bogdanovic Wins MVP

Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic won Rising Stars MVP honors with 26 points, six assists and seven made three-pointers. He became one of the few international players to earn the award during the USA-versus-World era.

Jaylen Brown Scores a Game-High 35 Points

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown led all players with 35 points and added 10 rebounds, making 14 of 21 field-goal attempts.

Buddy Hield Scores 29 Points

Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield scored 29 points and made five three-pointers. He and Bogdanovic combined for 55 points for Team World.

Ben Simmons Records 13 Assists

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons contributed 11 points, six rebounds and 13 assists. He also recorded four steals and made all five field-goal attempts.

Domantas Sabonis Records a Double-Double

Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, making all six field-goal attempts.

Three Philadelphia 76ers Represent Team World

Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid played for Team World. Together, they contributed 34 points, 11 rebounds and 18 assists.

Donovan Mitchell Represents the Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell recorded seven points, seven assists, five steals and two blocked shots. Mitchell also participated in the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest, which he won.

Team World Makes 23 Three-Pointers

The international squad made 23 of 56 three-point attempts, compared with 11 of 40 for Team USA. Bogdanovic led the game with seven made three-pointers.

Team World Wins by 31 Points

The 31-point margin was one of the largest in the history of the Rising Stars Challenge and gave Team World its third victory in four seasons under the international format.

2018 NBA All-Star Weekend

Team LeBron defeated Team Stephen 148-145 in the main NBA All-Star Game on February 18, 2018. LeBron James won All-Star MVP honors. Donovan Mitchell won the Slam Dunk Contest, Devin Booker won the Three-Point Contest, and Spencer Dinwiddie won the Skills Challenge.

Who won the 2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenge?

Team World defeated Team USA 155-124 on February 16, 2018.

Who was the 2018 Rising Stars MVP?

Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic won MVP after scoring 26 points, making seven three-pointers and recording six assists.

Where was the 2018 Rising Stars Challenge played?

The game was held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Who scored the most points?

Jaylen Brown led all players with 35 points for Team USA.

How many points did Buddy Hield score?

Hield scored 29 points for Team World, making five three-pointers.

Who led the game in assists?

Ben Simmons recorded a game-high 13 assists for Team World.

Who led the game in rebounds?

Domantas Sabonis grabbed 11 rebounds for Team World.

Who coached Team World and Team USA?

Rex Kalamian coached Team World, while Roy Rogers coached Team USA.

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