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Gobert, Wiggins lead World Team over Mason Plumlee and Team USA in Rising Stars Challenge, 121-112

By Tom Lorenzo
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

BROOKLYN - The Brooklyn Nets have no players in this Sunday's NBA All-Star game, but they did have two players in the Rising Stars Challenge. Mason Plumlee suited up for Team USA while Bojan Bogdanovic was out there for the World Team. The two combined for 29 points, repping the home team at Barclays Center.

As their highlights show, the two played typical games at Barclays, with a little razzle-dazzle from Plumlee thrown in.



Bogie's All-Star commitment has ended, while Plums moves on to All-Star Saturday Night and the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, the evening's final event.

The Rising Stars Challenge was what it was, as both teams played out an exhibition game, but it was too much Andrew Wiggins and Rudy Gobert for the World Team, as they beat USA, 121-112.

Both Plumlee and Bogdanovic came off the bench for their respective team in the first half. The flow of the game was as expected, not much defense and a lot of open lanes to the basket, fastbreak points and one-on-ones. The World Team got out to a quick start, with the help of Nikola Mirotic, Andrew Wiggins and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Mirotic hit three threes in the first five minutes of the game, giving World an early 21-14 lead.

Plumlee was the first of the two Nets to come off the bench at the 15-minute mark or so. He scored his first bucket of the game on a drive to the basket about 30 seconds after he entered.

Bogdanovic entered at under the 12-minute mark in the first half. He scored on an easy layup and then hit a three to get the World back on track near the midway mark in the first.

Knowing full well that this is just an exhibition game, Plumlee "played well" in the first half. He was the first to score in double figures, scoring 10 in just under 10 minutes. After one half he had 10 points and 4 rebounds, while Bogdanovic scored 9 points, as the World led Team USA, 69-67.

Victor Oladipo scored 16 points and Cody Zeller had 12 points in the first half. Mirotic had 14 points and Andrew Wiggins 13 points for the World.

In the second half, with Plumlee and Bogdanovic starting at the tap, it was same old, same old. Not defense, a lot of open breaks and, well, the kind of things you'd expect in an exhibition game.

Wiggins had some great highlight dunks, Rudy Gobert stepped up his game and the two Nets continued to show a little something. Wiggins went for 22 points while Gobert finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and some monster, monster blocks.

Plumlee finished with 13 points and 3 rebounds in 23 minutes, including a HUGE block late in the 4th quarter, while Bogdanovic went for 16 points in 17-plus minutes. ESPN's Tom Haberstroh and Mike Mazzeo gave both a grade of A.

Of Bogdanovic, they noted...

The hometown hero had himself a game, maybe his best game in the NBA. Too bad it didn't really count. The Brooklyn Net drained 3s from all over the floor and got to the rim. With no rebounds, Bogdanovic had one mission: get buckets.

And of Plumlee...

This type of game is made for Plumlee, who showcased his explosiveness and athleticism with several dunks and a beautiful block in the second half. He even played a little point-center at times. A great showing in front of the home fans.

Final score: World 121, USA 112.

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