Monroe, Knight selected for Rising Stars game
--Center Greg Monroe and point guard Brandon Knight have been selected for the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 24, in Orlando during All-Star weekend.
Monroe, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding, was a member of the Rookie Team during last year's event at the All-Star game. Knight is the second-highest scoring rookie this season behind Cleveland's Kyrie Irving.
The participants in the Rising Stars Challenge were selected by the NBA's assistant coaches. For the first time, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal will serve as the general managers of the two teams, each with nine-man rosters. Barkley and O'Neal will draft their teams on Thursday, Feb. 16.
--Pistons fans got used to seeing Richard Hamilton wear a mask in recent seasons. Knight is the current masked man, courtesy of an elbow by New Orleans' DaJuan Summers, that broke his nose Saturday.
Knight played 37 minutes Wednesday and had 13 points, four assists and four turnovers against the Nets while adjusting to his new look.
"You know me, I'm not going to complain about anything," he said. "It's a little bit uncomfortable but I'll get used to it. Of course, I noticed it because it got hot and sticky on my face, but I ended up getting used to it."
QUOTE TO NOTE
"If we scored 120 points, there would be a parade."
-- Pistons coach Lawrence Frank, whose team has not reached 100 points in regulation this season.
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