Murray, Hield, lead World past US

NEW ORLEANS (AP):

Jamal Murray and Buddy Hield each had moments when they caught the ball in the low post, only to dribble right out to the corner, turn and let fly a 3-point shot.

Maybe not the most fundamental approach, but the way they were scoring in the Rising Stars Challenge, no one seemed to mind - certainly not the fans.

Murray had 36 points and 11 assists as the World squad beat the US 150-141 on Friday night. Hield, a New Orleans Pelicans rookie, added 28 points to the delight of the locals, who'll want to see more of that when the regular season resumes.

"I was feeling it. I was just playing within the game, and I wasn't trying to force it," Murray said.

The game, featuring top rookies and second-year pros, is the main event on the first night of NBA All-Star weekend. While the final score demonstrated the sport's global gains, both teams had their fair share of highlights.

Murray, a Canadian and Denver Nuggets rookie out of Kentucky, went 9 of 14 on 3-pointers and was voted the game's MVP.

"He got hot. Coach is like, 'Give Jamal the ball,'" Hield said.

Hield, a Bahamian, was 11-of-22 shooting overall, but just 3 of 12 from deep. Hield's regular season high is 21 points, but he's averaged fewer than nine points in an inconsistent first season out of Oklahoma.