Typically during the Rookie-Sophomore games during the All-Star break, you pretty much know who is going to win. The Sophs’ roster typically is far superior to the Rookies’ and the end results bear that out as they have had won seven straight and eight of ten with this format, which began in 2000. Last year’s game was one in which the Rookies surprised the Sophomores.
Those Rookies were this year’s Sophomores, but unfortunately for them, they would suffer that noted “Sophomore jinx”. While both teams shot well north of 50 percent (the Rookies shot nearly 57% while the Sophs shot nearly 54%), the duo of Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans and San Antonio forward DeJuan Blair led the Rookies to the convincing 140-128 win over the Sophomores at the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge Friday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.
The Rookies led 55-45 with just under 4 minutes left in the first half when Evans converted a difficult scoop shot and converting the three-point play; the Sophomores would then score six consecutive points as Eric Gordon scored a basket, then a dunk off an assist from O.J. Mayo. Anthony Morrow scored on a reverse layup, but the first-timers got all those points back.
Brandon Jennings would drain a 3, Jonny Flynn drove for a layup and Jennings then scored on a breakaway layup, mking it 61-51. The largest lead for the Rookies during the first half was the halftime score of 67-55, courtesy of an Omri Casspi turnaround jumper.
The Rookies would reach the 100-point mark with more than ten minutes left in the game on a short floater by Jennings, giving the Rookies a 100-86 cushion; the newbies would coast from that point to the comfortable win.
Evans led six Rookies in scoring with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals while Blair, Jennings and James Harden scored 22 apiece – with Blair grabbing 23 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists while Jennings grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 8 assists along with 4 steals; Harden grabbed 5 boards and dished out 2 assists.
The Sophomores were led by Russell Westbrook with a game-high 40 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while Michael Beasley added 26 with 7 rebounds and 2 assists; Morrow chipped in 15 with 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Evans would get the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge MVP award for his efforts.