Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson scored 33 points to lead the Sophomores past the Rookies 136-109 Friday in the National Basketball Association Rookie Challenge.

 

 

Daniel Gibson (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to making a three point basket in front of Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian (R) during the NBA Rookie Challenge game part of the National Basketball Association All-Star weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana February 15, 2008.

 

Gibson the Challenge Most Valuable Player, came off the bench and made 11-of-20 shots, all of them from beyond the 3-point arc, to ignite the NBA's second-year players to their sixth victory in a row over league newcomers.

 

"It was unbelievable. It was special," Gibson said. "I never dreamed I would shoot the ball as well as I did."

 

Cavaliers teammate LeBron James told Gibson before the game, "If you get an open look take it." Gibson looked at James after each of his 3-pointers.

 

All other players on both teams were a combined 10-of-21 from 3-point range.

 

"When you hit 11 3s, that's hard to stop," Seattle rookie guard Kevin Durant said. "Once he gets it going, he makes a lot."

 

Memphis forward Rudy Gay added 22 points while Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 and Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar had 17 points and a game-high 12 assists.

 

Durant led the Rookies with 23 points while Al Horford added 19.

 

Spanish rookie Juan Carlos Navarro, a Memphis Grizzlies guard, led the international players participating with 14 points.

 

Chinese rookie forward Yi Jianlian of Milwaukee scored eight points in just under 24 minutes, hitting 3-of-8 shots from the field.

 

Italian forward Andrea Bargnani of Toronto scored eight points for the Sophomores while Argentina forward Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets scored four points.

 

The game was among the events here ahead of Sunday's 57th NBA All-Star Game.

 

(CRI February 17, 2008)