By R.L. Bynum
Cole Anthony’s big All-Star weekend in Cleveland gets started at 9 p.m. Friday when he plays in the Rising Stars Challenge for James Worthy’s team, and he’ll also compete in the Slam Dunk contest on Saturday night, both at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Team Worthy gets the competition started at 9 p.m. on TNT against former Indiana star Isiah Thomas’ team. In the other first-round game at 9:30, Gary Payton’s team will meet Rick Barry’s team. All four coaches are members of the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team.
The two winners face off for the title at 10 p.m. The first-round games will be played to a target score of 50 and the championship game winner will be the first to 25.
The four honorary coaches drafted their seven-player teams from a pool of 28 players consisting of 12 rookies, 12 second-year players and four members of the G League’s Ignite team.
Joining Anthony on Worthy’s team are Josh Giddey (Thunder), Jalen Green (Rockets), Herbert Jones (Pelicans), Jalen Suggs (Magic) Tyrese Maxey (76ers) and MarJon Beauchamp (Ignite).
The Dunk Contest is the third event on Saturday night. The action starts at 8 p.m. with the Skills Challenge, followed by the 3-Point Contest and finally the Slam Dunk contest.
Competing against Anthony in the dunk contest will be Golden State’s Juan Toscano-Anderson, New York’s Obi Toppin and Green, one of Anthony’s Rising Stars teammates.
Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, the HBCU Classic between Seventh Woods’ Morgan State team and Howard will start at 2 p.m. and air on ESPN2 and TNT.
Thursday was a light night in the NBA with Danny Green scoring two points in 14 minutes of Philadelphia’s 123–120 win at Milwaukee and Day’Ron Sharpe scoreless in a minute of Brooklyn’s 117–103 home loss to Washington.
Reggie Bullock (right hip contusion) and Theo Pinson (fracture of the right fifth finger) both missed their second consecutive Dallas Mavericks game, a 125–110 win at New Orleans.
In the G League, Justin Jackson had 21 points, three 3-pointers, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Texas Legends’ 112–97 road win over the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 46 games, 17.7 points, 39.8 FG%, 33.7 3FG%, 85.5 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday Rising Stars challenge, Team Worthy vs. Team Isaiah, TNT; Dunk Contest, the third of the events that start at 8 p.m. Saturday, TNT; 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 vs. Houston
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 55 games, 17.0 points, 46.6 FG%, 40.9 3FG%, 82.8 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Denver; 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at Denver
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 45 games, 3.1 points, 57.9 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Atlanta; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, vs. Memphis
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
125–110 win at New Orleans — Missed game with right hip contusion
Season statistics — 49 games, 8.2 points, 41.5 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Utah; 7:30 Sunday, Feb. 27, at Golden State, ESPN
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 19 games, 1.1 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Thursday at Detroit; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, vs. Washington
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 35 games, 6.1 points, 39.2 FG%, 38.5 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, vs. Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN; 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, vs. New Orleans, ESPN
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
123–120 win at Milwaukee — 14 minutes, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1 assist, -5, -0.9 game score
Season statistics — 40 games, 6.4 points, 39.9 FG%, 37.6 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Minnesota; 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27 at New York, ABC
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 54 games, 11.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 42.9 3FG%, 85.5 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday at Oklahoma City; 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25, vs. New Orleans
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder
Season statistics — 42 games, 9.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
125–110 win at New Orleans — Missed game with fracture of right fifth finger
NBA season statistics — 16 games, 1.8 points, 28.1 FG%, 24.0 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
G League season statistics — 14 games, 15.7 points, 40.4 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 84.8 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Utah; 7:30 Sunday, Feb. 27, at Golden State, ESPN
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
117–103 loss vs. Washington — 1 minute, 0 points, -2, 0.0 game score
Season NBA statistics — 30 games, 6.1 points, 57.1 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 56.8% FT, 5.1 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Season G League statistics — 4 games, 18.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 33.33P%, 85.7 FT%, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks
Up next — 7:30 Thursday vs. Boston, TNT; 8:30 Saturday, Feb. 26, at Milwaukee, ABC
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 39 games, 14.0 points, 45.3 FG%, 40.1 3P%, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Atlanta; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, vs. Memphis
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In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
112–97 Thursday win at Santa Cruz Warriors — Started; 38 minutes, 21 points, 7–17 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +11
NBA season statistics — 7 games, 2.1 points, 33.3% FG, 33.3% 3FG, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
G League season statistics — 20 games, 23.2 points, 43.1% FG, 40.5% 3FG, 85.7 FT%, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets affiliate); 8:30, Saturday, Feb. 26 at Rio Grande Valley Vipers
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Photo via @OrlandoMagic
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