NBA Rising Stars recap, highlights: Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren bring home the title

To start things off, the 2024 Panini Rising Stars Tournament kicked off with impressive introductions on a stage, similar to how things are done for the main event on Sunday. Unlike a regular NBA game or the NBA All-Star game, the first two Rising Stars games play without a standard clock, only a shot clock, because the game is played to a target score of 40 points, while the championship game is played to a target score of 25 points.

The first matchup was Team Tamika Catchings vs Team Jalen Rose, Thunder stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren played for Team Rose, the rest of the rosters are as follows:

Team Rose

• Jeremy Sochan
• Chet Holmgren
• Walker Kessler
• Bennedict Mathurin
• Jalen Williams
• Derick Lively II
• Jordan Hawkins
• Shaedon Sharpe (DNP)

Team Catchings

• Keegan Murray
• Paolo Banchero
• Jalen Duren
• Jaden Ivey
• Scoot Henderson
• Keyonte George
• Dyson Daniels (DNP)

The first contest was exciting and fast paced, Holmgren and JDub were somewhat quiet, as Wiliams scored two points on perfect 1-1 shooting and dished two assists, whereas Holmgren scored five points on 2-for-4 shooting and three rebounds, including his audition tape for the Dunk Contest.

The star of the first game was Indiana Pacers rookie Mathurin. The host city sweetheart scored 18 of the team's 40 points, including the game-winning bucket.

The rosters for Team Detlef Schrempf and Team Pau Gasol are as follows:

Team Pau

• Brandon Miller
• Jabari Smith Jr.
• Victor Wembanyama
• Jaime Jaquez Jr.
• Brandin Podziemski
• Cason Wallace
• Bial Coulibaly

Team Detlef

• Emoni Bates
• Matas Buzelis
• Oscar Tshiebwe
• Alondes Williams
• Mac McClung
• Tyler Smith
• Izan Almansa
• Ronald Holland II

This matchup was all about Wembanyama and while he nearly brought Team Pau back at the end, it was ultimately the squad made up mostly of G-League talent who moved on to the championship game to face Team Jalen. Thunder rookie Cason Wallace dazzled in his 10 minutes of action, scoring eight points in his first taste of All-Star weekend action.

Team Detlef vs Team Jalen in The Championship Game

For a moment, it appeared the G-Leaguers were going to have a fairy tale ending in Indy, but Team Jalen put on a team performance in the final round, as all the players scored except for Sochan. And, none other than the Thunder's Jalen Williams hit the game-winner for Team Jalen, giving them the 26-13 win in the final match of the evening.

Willams finished the game with five points on 2-of-3 shooting, including the game-winner. Holmgren did not attempt a shot, but he did go perfect from the foul line and pulled down two rebounds. Mathurin was awarded the MVP as he scored a total of 22 points on the evening.

After three players showed out on All-Star Friday night, the Thunder won't have any representatives competing on Saturday. In Sunday's main event, however, Shai Glgeous-Alexander will be starting in the All-Star Game so be sure to tune back in to see him show out.