CLEVELAND — A jammed right thumb and a loss weren’t what Ayo Dosunmu expected this All-Star Weekend, but that’s what the Bulls rookie was left with after a driving layup by the Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate knocked Dosunmu’s team out of the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night.
Dosunmu played on Team Payton (former NBA great Gary Payton was the honorary coach), facing Team Barry (coached by former ABA and NBA great Rick Barry), which won 50-48 on Tate’s layup.
Dosunmu finished with five points, two assists and a steal.
He noted later that he jammed his thumb on the rim “and it bent back,” but the injury did not seem to be serious.
“It was fun to get out there and play, but thinking about it, we should have taken it a little bit more serious early on — but it’s cool,” Dosunmu said.
The showcase changed format this year, becoming a four-team tournament. The first two games were played to 50, while the final between Team Barry and Team Isiah (coached by Isiah Thomas) was played to 25. Team Barry won that game 25-20, with Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham chosen as the evening’s MVP.
The Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels led Team Payton with 12 points, while the Nuggets’ Bones Hyland scored 10. Cunningham and the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley each scored 13 for Team Barry in that game.
“Last 10 points I think we played, toward the end it was fun, competing like that,” Dosunmu said.
Bulls teammates DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine were sitting courtside to support Dosunmu. He planned to return the favor by watching LaVine in Saturday’s Three-Point Contest and also attending Sunday’s All-Star Game, where DeRozan and LaVine will be on opposing teams — DeRozan on captain LeBron James’ team and LaVine on captain Kevin Durant’s team.
“Definitely. I’m going to be there to support them, just like they support me,” Dosunmu said. “They look out for me, I look out for them.”
