Members of Team Vince celebrate after winning the Rising Stars Challenge Championship Game during NBA All-Star Weekend
RONALD MARTINEZPhiladelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe came through as honorary coach Vince Carter's Team Vince triumphed Friday in the Rising Stars Challenge on the opening night of NBA All-Star Weekend.
Edgecombe, who has emerged as one of the league's most efficient performers in "clutch" time -- the final five minutes of close games -- was named Most Valuable Player of the challenge.
It featured three teams of rookies and second-year players and a team of G League talent in a mini-tournament.
Edgecombe drilled a pair of game-winning free-throws as Team Vince beat Carmelo Anthony's Team Melo 25-24 in the rapid-fire championship game in which the first team to 25 points won.
San Antonio's 2025 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle had put Team Melo up 24-23 with a tip-in dunk, but Donovan Clingan fouled Edgecombe on the other end and the 20-year-old from the Bahamas closed it out.
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in the 2025 draft, had delivered the game-winner in his team's 41-36 win over Tracy McGrady's Team T-Mac to reach the title contest.
In the other semi-final -- both played to 40 points -- Team Melo closed with a 12-2 scoring run to beat the team of G League players coached by Austin Rivers 40-34.
San Antonio rookie Dylan Harper, the second overall pick in the 2025 draft, closed out that win with a step-back basket over his brother Ron Harper Jr. -- a G League regular who has played for the Boston Celtics on a two-way contract this season.
Like Sunday's All-Star Game proper, the Rising Stars Challenge at the Intuit Dome -- home of the Los Angeles Clippers -- was hit by injuries.
Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, the top overall pick in the 2025 draft, was ruled out with a sprained foot.
The All-Star festivities continue on Saturday with the Slam Dunk Contest, the Three-Point Contest and the Skills Challenge.
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Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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