Jose Alvarado wins Rising Stars MVP, leads Team Pau over Team Joakim

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado’s drifting 3-pointerclinched a 25-20 win for Team Pau (Gasol) over Team Joakim (Noah)in the title game of the Rising Stars event Friday at All-Starweekend.

Alvarado, who was named the Most Valuable Player, had fivepoints in the title game.

A certified bucket getter.Peep Jose Alvarado's #JordanRisingStars MVP mixtape 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6SoruJRNsP

The win capped a memorable day for Gasol, who was named aBasketball Hall of Fame finalist earlier Friday.

“I’m going out on top. It may be one and done for me,” Gasolsaid of his coaching debut.

New York’s Quentin Grimes scored 14 points in the final but waswrapped up — literally held at times — by Alvarado down thestretch.

“I didn’t know you could do that in the Rising Stars game. Ishould have alerted the refs to call a technical or something,”Grimes said. “It was all fun but I was going for the wintonight.”

Said Alvarado: “It might not have been (legal), but he was doinggood.”

The four teams, comprised of 21 first- and second-year NBAplayers along with seven G League players, competed in semifinalsgames to a target score of 40.

Alvarado’s 13 points helped Team Pau top Team Deron (Williams)in the first game 40-27, despite an array of spectacular dunks byTrey Murphy III.

In the second semifinal, Grimes scored 13 points including thewinning 3 to power Team Joakim over Team Jason (Terry), composed ofthe G Leaguers. Mac McClung, who is competing in Saturday’s DunkContest, nearly stole the show with 10 points in the comeback bidbut missed a jam on his last attempt.

CELEBRITY GAME

Team Dwyane rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Team Ryan81-78 in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night. Utah Jazzowner Ryan Smith and Basketball Hall of Fame finalist Dwyane Wadeserved as honorary captains of the celebrity teams.

Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf paced Team Dwyane with 20points and 10 rebounds — but he’ll be best remembered for an arrayof dunks. Actor Everett Osbourne led Team Ryan with 23 points, 12rebounds and three assists. Metcalf was named the game’s MVP.

Each celebrity team included a WNBA All-Star. Phoenix Mercuryguard Diamond DeShields played for Team Ryan. Dallas Wings guardArike Ogunbowale played for Team Dwyane. Other notable athletesparticipating included former NFL player Calvin Johnson and formerMLB player Albert Pujols.

Wade added former NBA player Carlos Boozer to his team in thesecond half. Smith countered by adding former NBA player RichardJefferson. Jefferson served as part of the officiating crew duringthe first half; he also worked as an official for one quarter of aSummer League game in Las Vegas last year.

Between the game, and a 3-point shootout between Smith and Wade,$142,000 was raised for 5 for the Fight, a charitable foundationdevoted to funding cancer research.

Smith said the funds raised on Friday would benefit the HuntsmanCancer Institute on the University of Utah campus.

JABARI ON JORDAN

Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. was asked if Michael Jordan — whoturned 60 on Friday — could compete if they were were to play1-on-1 now.

Smith was pretty sure Jordan wouldn’t be getting buckets.

“He’s not beating me right now. If a 60-year-old is hooping onme, I need to hang it up,” Smith said. He then added, “HappyBirthday, MJ!”

SHORT STUFF

Alvarado is listed at 6 feet, which might be a tiny bitgenerous.

He doesn’t mind.

When told before Friday’s Rising Stars event that he was a herofor the undersized, Alvarado had a message for others who considerthemselves vertically challenged.

“Hey short people, I’m just like y’all. We got a lot of heart,”Alvarado said. “I see lots of other little guys tagging me onInstagram. I see your love. Keep being yourself, don’t try to benobody else.”

Alvarado admitted that the highlights of him hiding behindbigger players to get steals in the backcourt is making it tougherto surprise opponents.

“Everybody seen those clips. Now, so I just got to find anotherway, but I’m crafty,” he said.

WELCOME MOMENT

Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams said the season has been like adream. He used to wear Derrick Rose’s shoes constantly when he wasyounger and then found himself guarding D-Rose in Madison SquareGarden.

“So wild,” Williams said before the Rising Stars games. “Goingup against people that I watched on TV is definitely kind ofsurreal.”