INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana guard Benedict Mathurin put on a show for Pacers fans Friday night, scoring 13 points in a 26-13 victory in the championship game and winning the Rising Stars MVP award.
San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembaneyama didn’t get that far.
Despite scoring 11 points, the team lost in the second game.
Mathurin’s teammate Jalen Williams scored the final 13 points to give coach Jalen Rose the title.
But it was an all-Pacers celebration.
In addition to a great night for Mathurin, he heard the words “MVP!” MVP! ” he chanted while scoring a game-high 18 points in the first game — Rose and coach Detlef Schrempf, a former Pacers player who also advanced to the championship round.
And Indiana rookie Oscar Tshibwe led Schrempf’s team in the title game, scoring eight points.
Mathurin’s early scoring rush quickly gave Rose’s team a 12-4 lead before Oklahoma City’s Williams shut it out with a 6-0 run.
