Booker scores 23, Towns adds 18 in USA’s Rising Stars victory

Former University of Kentucky star Devin Booker, a late addition to the Rising Stars Challenge, made the most of his opportunity by scoring 23 points in the USA’s 157-154 victory over the World team in Toronto.

Booker was subbing in for fellow former Cat Nerlens Noel, who missed the All-Star weekend contest with tendinitis in his right knee. The Phoenix Suns rookie was 9-for-13 from the field, including five of eight from three-point range.

“I had something to prove,” Booker said afterward of his not being initially chosen to play in the game. “I could say when it first came out I felt disrespected. I definitely felt like I belonged, and I had to show that and I felt like I did.”

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half for USA. The ex-Cat was 8-for-15 from the field and also had seven rebounds and four assists.

Towns’ Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Zach Lavine was named the game’s MVP. He led the USA with 30 points, and he also had seven rebounds and four assists.

The New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, and the Denver Nuggets’ Emmanuel Mudiay had 30 points and 10 assists for the World team. The Timberwolves’ Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points while playing in front of his hometown fans.

“I got it last year, he got it this year,” Wiggins said of his Wolves teammate winning MVP. “(Towns) is going to get it next year. We’re going back-to-back-to-back. That’s the plan.”

Kentucky’s other representative in the game, Utah Jazz rookie Trey Lyles, played just over 12 minutes and had two points, two rebounds and one assist.

Booker will try to carry his red-hot three-point shooting into Saturday night’s three-point contest. He’ll be competing against Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Houston’s James Harden, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Portland’s C.J. McCollum, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, the L.A. Clippers’ J.J. Redick and Golden State’s Klay Thompson.

Asked if he saved any threes for Saturday, Booker said “I need 20 more than that tomorrow.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Booker scores 23, Towns adds 18 in USA’s Rising Stars victory."