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Representing the Los Angeles Lakers at the MTN DEW ICE ICE Rising Stars Challenge for the second year in a row, Kyle Kuzma scored 35 points to help the US team win the 161-144 victory over Team World.
Kobe Bryant held the Lakers record with 31 points in the exhibition match. Kuzma scored 20 points on the bench of rising stars last year, which the World won by 31 points at the Staples Center.
Similar to what he saw in a few games of the season, Kuzma was at an early offensive pace. He scored 14 of the US team's 20 points in the first four minutes of the game and led all players with 23 points at halftime.
Ben Simmons made a similar start, but Team USA began to lag behind the solid play of his second unit. Simmons helped the world get back on track before the US could extend their double-digit lead.
When the world again reduced its deficit in the third quarter, the United States had another answer. Although it did not involve much on the part of Kuzma who curiously started the second period on the bench. He checked midway through the third goal, but scored only two points before the match started.
Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young's trio scored 11-2 for the United States and gave the United States a 13-point advantage over a little over seven minutes of play. Rather than seal a victory, the United States became cold and missed their next 11 shots.
The drought was broken by Kuzma, who ended the break and then made two free throws to possession of the ball. Another wave of Kuzma at the end of the quarter finally set the World apart.
The United States ended the World Series of two consecutive wins and only won their second victory in five attempts since the NBA adopted the current format.
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