NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge final scores, results: Bennedict Mathurin explodes as Team Jalen wins tournament

David Suggs

NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge final scores, results: Bennedict Mathurin explodes as Team Jalen wins tournament image

The hometown kid came to play during this year's Rising Stars Challenge.

On a court filled with young stars, it was a Pacer phenom taking charge for Team Jalen. Indiana guard Bennedict Mathurin captured MVP honors, dropping 22 points (18 in the first game) as Team Jalen made it out of the mire to hoist the Rising Stars Challenge trophy.

It was a night teeming with starlight. Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero were among the prospective supernovas who took the stage.

Team Detlef — made up of G-League talents including Matas Buzelis, expected to be a top-five pick in next year's draft — showed out in a big way, vanquishing Wemby and the heavily-favored Team Pau to earn a spot in the finals.

Unfortunately, they met a buzzsaw in Team Jalen, and after a pair of threes by Jordan Hawkins and Jalen Williams, it was the navy-clad Jalenites who ended the night adorned by cheers.

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Friday's Rising Stars Challenge. Follow below to witness all the action as it happened from Nap Town.

MORE: Everything you need to know about All-Star 2024

NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge: Live updates, scores, highlights

11:02 p.m.: MVP honors go to Bennedict Mathurin! Little surprise there given his impressive display in the first game. The hometown kid gets it done!

Rising stars winner: Team Jalen

10:56 p.m.: That's game! Jordan Hawkins and Jalen Williams sinks back-to-back threes to dash G-League hearts!

10:53 p.m.: Lively leaps through the floor before ripping the rim on a lob. Team Jalen is up 20-13. They're almost at the finish line.

10:52 p.m.: Tshiebwe pulls of another magic trick, faking out Dereck Lively before finishing with a feather. Team Detlef brings things slightly closer.

10:50 p.m.: What an assist by Mathurin, who completed a full 360 before finding Kessler with a dime. Team Jalen starting to pull away a bit. They're up 14-9.

10:43 p.m.: Thiebwe throws down the hammer on Kessler! What a start to the game for Team Detlef, who takes a 4-2 lead!

10:40 p.m.: The final contest of the night — between Team Detlef and Team Jalen — tips off! Should be an enticing affair.

10:28 p.m.: Ballgame! Buzelis flips one blond Miller's grasp to give Team Detlef a stunning victory. It'll be G-Leaguers vs. NBA stars to determine who is the superior youngsters.

10:23 p.m.: Detlef's team is up 39-36. The G-Leaguers just can't seem to find a final bucket.

10:19 p.m.: What an answer by Team Detlef! Williams and Buzelis combine to put the G-League loaded roster on the brink of a shock upset.

10:14 p.m.: In an instant, the lead is down to two. Wallace sank a contested three, followed by a Wemby finish through contact. These games can get away from you so quickly.

10:08 p.m.: Team Detlef is in control. Almansa swats away Coulibaly, then finishes with authority on the break. They're on a 19-5 run. 

McClung showcasing his skillset, blowing past Coulibaly before finishing through contact to give his team a 25-15 edge.

10:06 p.m.: Impressive showing by Team Detlef, who has raced out to an 15-8 lead. Emoni Bates putting on a clinic early.

10:00 p.m.: Wemby already putting on a show. Just dropped a delicate lob to Jaquez at Team Pau gets off to an early lead. He followed that up with an audacious nutmeg attempt on Tshiebwe. It didn't work. But it gives you a idea of how he's feeling early.

9:46 p.m.: Next up on the docket: Team Detlef (Ron Holland, Izan Almansa, Emoni Bates, Matas Buzelis, Mac McClung, Oscar Tshiebwe, Alondes Williams) and Team Pau (Bilal Coulibaly, Brandon Miller, Jaime Jaquez, Brandin Podziemski, Jabari Smith, Cason Wallace, Victor Wembanyama).

9:40 p.m.: Mathurin hits a fadeaway jumper on Scoot! Team Jalen survives, vanquishing Team Tamika 40-35. Impressive comeback spurred on by the Canadian starlet, who tallied 18 of Team Jalen's 40 points.

9:38 p.m.: Another impressive bucket for Mathurin, who stepped back on Ivey before hitting yet another three. Team Jalen is on the brink of a win. And it's mostly on Mathurin, who has 16 on the night.

Team Jalen is two point away from a win.

9:32 p.m.: Mathurin is en fuego. He's got 11 of Team Jalen's 32 points at present. And he's got Rose's team on the up-and-up. Team Jalen leads 32-24. It could have been worse for Team Tamika as well. If not for a ball slip, Mathurin could have very well baptized Duran with a one-handed tomahawk.

9:30 p.m.: Mathurin is beginning to percolate. Just slid beyond Keyontae George with a sumptuous behind th back and scoop layup. Team Jalen is back in this one.

9:20 p.m.: It's been a bit of a track meet in the early stages of tonight's first contest. Team Tamika is putting a hurting on Team Jalen, with Banchero proving especially lively in the open floor. Early 14-8 lead for Team Tamika.

9:15 p.m.: First matchup of the day sees Team Jalen Rose (Jalen Williams, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jeremy Sochan, Walker Kessler) take on Team Tamika Catchings (Jalen Duren, Scoot Henderson, Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray). Target score for both sides is 40 points. Should be an interesting contest.

7:45 p.m.: Wemby is making sure to pay homage to his Texas roots ahead of tonight's big game. He's sporting a cowboy hat as he's strutting into Lucas Oil Stadium.

7:35 p.m.: Thunder teammates look to make magic happen on the All-Star platform that is the Rising Stars Challenge.

NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge start time

  • Date: Friday, Feb. 16
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT

The Rising Stars Challenge will begin around 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 16. The event will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

NBA Rising Stars Challenge rosters 2024

Team Pau Gasol

Player Team
Victor Wembanyama Spurs
Brandon Miller Hornets
Brandin Podziemski Warriors
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Heat
Jabari Smith Jr. Rockets
Cason Wallace Thunder
Bilal Coulibaly Wizards

Team Tamika Catchings

Player Team
Paolo Banchero Magic
Jaden Ivey Pistons
Jalen Duren Pistons
Keegan Murray Kings
Scoot Henderson Trail Blazers
Keyonte George Jazz
Dyson Daniels* Pelicans
Vince Williams Jr.* Grizzlies

*Williams will be the injury replacement for Daniels.

Team Jalen Rose

Player Team
Chet Holmgren Thunder
Jalen Williams Thunder
Bennedict Mathurin Pacers
Shaedon Sharpe* Trail Blazers
Dereck Lively II Mavericks
Jordan Hawkins Pelicans
Walker Kessler Jazz
Jeremy Sochan* Spurs

*Sochan will be the injury replacement for Sharpe.

Team Detlef Schrempf

Player Team
Izan Almansa G League Ignite
Emoni Bates* Cleveland Charge
Matas Buzelis G League Ignite
Ron Holland* G League Ignite
Mac McClung Osceola Magic
Tyler Smith G League Ignite
Oscar Tshiebwe Indiana Mad Ants
Alondes Williams Sioux Falls Skyforce

*Bates will be the injury replacement for Holland.

NBA Rising Stars Challenge format 2024

Here is the full breakdown of the event, per NBA.com:

All three games in the mini-tournament will be played to a Final Target Score, which means each game will end on a made basket or free throw rather than time expiring.

The two semifinal games — Game 1 and Game 2 — will be played to a Final Target Score of 40.

The final game, featuring the winners, will be played to a Final Target Score of 25 to determine the tournament champion.

  • Game 1: Team Jalen vs. Team Tamika
  • Game 2: Team Detlef vs. Team Pau
  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

NBA All-Star schedule 2024

NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off Friday with the All-Star Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge. The skills competitions will be held on Saturday, and the All-Star Game will take place on Sunday.

Friday, Feb. 16

Event Time (ET) TV channel
Rising Stars Practice 11:30 a.m. NBA TV
Hall of Fame News Conference 5:30 p.m. NBA TV
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 7 p.m. ESPN
Rising Stars 9 p.m. TNT

Saturday, Feb. 17

Event Time (ET) TV channel
NBA All-Star Practice 11 a.m. NBA TV
HBCU Classic 2 p.m. ESPN2/NBA TV/TNT
Adam Silver News Conference 7 p.m. NBA TV
All-Star Saturday Night (Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest) 8 p.m. TNT

Sunday, Feb. 18

Event Time (ET) TV channel
NBA Legends Awards 11:30 a.m. NBA TV
G League Up Next Game 1:30 p.m. NBA TV
NBA All-Star Game 8 p.m. TNT

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.