CLEVELAND, Ohio — Jaylon Tyson’s first All-Star experience didn’t last long.
One of the participants in Friday’s Rising Stars and a member of Team T-Mac, the Cavaliers’ breakthrough sophomore lost in the opening game to Team Vince, 41-36. The two teams played to a target score of 40.
Tyson and Team T-Mac did not advance to the championship game — despite his best individual effort.
In the loss, Tyson looked the part, finishing with a team-high 10 points on 3 of 5 from the field and 2 of 3 from 3-point range to go with five rebounds and two assists.
His All-Star Weekend was highlighted by a long-range triple from close to the logo that drew oohs and aahs from the Intuit Dome crowd — the kind of shot-making that has not only helped Tyson become one of Cleveland’s most important players but also led to him being one of 21 first- or second-year players chosen to participate in the annual showcase of the league’s brightest youngsters (before injury replacements).
This year’s Rising Stars tournament consisted of four teams coached by ex-NBA players Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Austin Rivers. The winner of the first semifinal game — Team Melo — advanced to the championship game against Team Vince, the eventual winner.
Cavs teammate Donovan Mitchell, an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve who was seated courtside during the event, shared his support for Tyson on social media ahead of tipoff Friday night while also offering a prediction.
“Jaylon Tyson MVP,” Mitchell wrote, followed by two exclamation points.
That was the same goal written on the locker room whiteboard by Tyson’s Team T-Mac cohorts.
Only with the early exit, Tyson lost any chance at All-Star Weekend hardware, especially with Team Vince peer VJ Edgecombe pouring in a game-high 17 points, including the final 10, in the head-to-head matchup.
Mitchell will now look for Cavalier redemption Saturday night in the 3-Point Contest.