Celtics
Team G-League was one win away from facing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s All-Star team Sunday night
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After pulling off an upset victory over in the opening round, the team representing the NBA G-League finished one win shy of advancing to All-Star Sunday.
Team G-League, which featured Maine Celtics star JD Davison and two-time dunk contest champion Mac McClung, fell 25-14 to “Team C” Friday night.
Davison scored 5 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out one assist in the two games. He was scoreless in the championship round. He threw down a ferocious two-handed dunk in the opening round.
Davison spoke before the game about how much the opportunity meant to him. He said he wanted to have fun and enjoy the moment with his parents, who attended the game.
It was an opportunity for the 22-year-old guard to showcase his skills in front of a larger audience. McClung told reporters before the game that Davison, who is averaging 26.5 points per game in Maine, deserves to be in the running for G-League MVP.
“That’s the work I’ve been putting in, honestly,” Davison said. “You can see it on the court. I’m just trying to do my job every day, night in and night out. I appreciate Mac for that, but I’m just trying to do my job, that’s about it.”
Team G-League advanced to the championship on a game-winning 3-pointer from Bryce McGowans, winning 40-39. The opening round games were up to 40, while the championship game was up to 25.
Former UConn star Stephon Castle, now with the San Antonio Spurs, was named MVP. He scored a team-high 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting with three rebounds, two assists, and no turnovers in the title round.
Team C will advance to the opening round of Sunday night’s reformatted All-Star game. The game has been redesigned as a mini-tournament featuring four teams and three games.
Because they won the Rising Stars mini-tournament, Team C earned a spot in the all-star mini-tournament as “Candace’s Rising Stars.” They’ll be coached by WNBA legend Candace Parker. They’ll take on Shaquille O’Neal’s “OG’s,” which feature Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Steph Curry, among others.
The winner of that game will face the winner of the other semifinal game between “Chuck’s Global Stats” and Kenny’s Young Stars in the NBA All-Star championship game Sunday night. Each player on the winning team receives $125,000.
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