Highlights
> Semifinal 1: Team Jalen 40, Team Tamika 35
> Semifinal 2: Team Detlef 41, Team Pau 36
> Final: Team Jalen 26, Team Detlef 13
INDIANAPOLIS — Team Jalen was named for honorary coach Jalen Rose, but it was the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams who put the finishing touches on a dominant, 26-13 victory over Team Detlef in the final of the Panini Rising Stars at All-Star 2024. After New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jordan Hawkins pulled up from 3 to put his team within two points of the target score of 25, Williams was given space to shoot and he drained the game-winner from a few feet beyond the arc.
Team Detlef, comprised of G League players, got off to a 4-2 start, but Team Jalen then took control with a 10 run. They then cruised to a 13-point victory with a balanced attack, with none of their seven players scoring more than seven points. Indiana Pacers guard Benedict Mathurin earned event MVP honors largely due to his 18 points in the first semifinal.
Things didn’t look great for Team Jalen early in that first game, as Team Tamika ran off to a 9-0 start. But Team Jalen eventually found its footing and used a 15-2 run to take a five-point lead. After missing two free throws on the previous possession, Mathurin drained a baseline jumper over Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson to give his squad a 40-35 victory. Henderson led Team Tamika with 10 points, while Jaden Ivey finished with eight points, three rebounds and four steals.
Team Detlef took control of the second semifinal with an early, 11-0 run. Team Pau cut a 12-point deficit down to one, but couldn’t complete the comeback and G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis gave Team Detlef the 41-36 victory with a tough, turnaround baseline jumper over Brandon Miller. Reigning dunk champ Mac McClung led the way with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, while No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama was the star for Team Pau, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Offical Site