NBA All-Star weekend: Rookies 71, Sophomores 69 at halftime

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Blake Griffin scored four points on a pair of dunks, but he only played six minutes in the first half of the NBA-All Star Rookies-Sophomores game that was leisurely played in front of a rather tepid Staples Center crowd.

Timberwolves guard Wesley Johnson led the Rookies with 16 points. The Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan and the Spurs’ DeJuan Blair each had 14 points for the Sophomores.

Griffin, the Clippers’ rookie star, got the biggest ovation when he was introduced. He missed his first two outside shots before getting two dunks after passes from Wizards guard John Wall.

Staples Center was only half full at tip-off and there were only a few plays that triggered a big response from the fans.

Blair had the most impressive dunk, as he caught his own pass off the backboard before slamming it.

--Barry Stavro

Clippers power forward Blake Griffin soars for one of his two dunks in the first half of the Rookies-Sophomores game on Friday night at Staples Center. Credit: Jeff Gross / Getty Images