Team Pau wins Jordan Rising Stars; Jose Alvarado named MVP

• Jordan Rising Stars: Draft results
• Everything to know about 2023 Jordan Rising Stars

Championship Final:
Team Pau 25, Team Jason 20 | Box score

Semifinals:
Game 1: Team Pau 40, Team Deron 25 | Box score
Game 2: Team Joakim 40, Team Jason 32 | Box score

Most Valuable Player: Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans

Fittingly, it was a 3-pointer that decided the Jordan Rising Stars championship Friday at Vivint Arena.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to give Team Pau a 25-20 win against Team Joakim. Alvarado’s shot was the third 3-pointer to get a game to its target score. Both semifinal games earlier in the night also ended with a made 3-pointer.  Alvarado was named the tournament’s MVP.

Second-year guard Quentin Grimes left a lasting mark in the championship, scoring 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting after a sizzling performance in his semifinal game. Grimes powered Team Joakim to 18-16 lead at one point, but overall balance ultimately allowed Team Pau to pull away. Alvarado had five points, while the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero (four points), Indiana Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin (seven points) and Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (six points) chipped in, too.

This year’s game was played to a Final Target Score, where each game would end on a made basket or free throw rather than time expiring. The two semifinal games — Game 1 and Game 2 — were be played to a Final Target Score of 40. The championship game was played to a Final Target Score of 25 to determine the Jordan Rising Stars winner.

Team Pau delivered!!! Proud of my players, this has been so fun 2-0 record as a coach, by the way #JordanRisingStars #NBAAllStar

El Team Pau cumplió!!! Orgulloso de mis jugadores, ha sido muy divertido Récord de 2-0 como entrenador, por cierto pic.twitter.com/B2Vv2DnLNB

— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) February 18, 2023

In the first semifinal game, Team Pau beat Team Deron, 40-25. Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray had the clinching 3-pointer off an assist from Indiana Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard. Alvarado provided a spark off the bench with 13 points in 10 minutes while Banchero (nine points, five rebounds) was also solid for Team Pau.

Team Joakim topped Team Jason 40-32 in Game 2 of the semifinals as Grimes nailed the 3-pointer that sealed the win and gave him a game-high 13 points. Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley (eight points), San Antonio Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan (six points) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (three points, six assists) were all solid for Team Joakim.

Game 2 had its moments, as Team Jason cut the lead to one (28-27) and five (37-32), respectively, but couldn’t finish either rally. Scoot Henderson, considered one of the top prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft, shot 1-for-5 and finished with three points. Mac McClung, who will participate in the AT&T Slam Dunk contest, led Team Jason with 10 points.

The 2023 Jordan Rising Stars rosters were announced following a player pool draft conducted by NBA legends and Rising Stars coaches Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Jason Terry.

— Jeff Case

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