CHARLOTTE -- Kyle Kuzma was determined to make sure Team USA snapped its two-game losing streak in the Rising Stars Challenge.
Why? To have some extra spending money.
"Facts," Kuzma said with a smile, when asked if what he said on the court postgame -- that part of his motivation was the $25,000 bonus that went to each member of the winning team -- was true.
"I think it was the second timeout, and I broke the huddle by saying, '1-2-3-BONUS.' So there you go."
Kuzma certainly did his part, scoring 14 of his game-high 35 points in the first quarter to stake Team USA to a 40-30 lead that it would never relinquish.