ROOKIE CHALLENGE James has 33 points in loss

The NBA rookies put on a show, but the second-year pros were better.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Though the future seems limitless for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the teenage friends realize they'll only get rare chances to play together.
The Rookie Challenge was one of those opportunities -- and nobody in attendance will soon forget how LeBron and 'Melo seized the day.
James scored 33 points and hooked up with Anthony for four breathtaking alley-oop dunks that were the best moments in the sophomores' highlight-filled 142-118 victory Friday night.
Snubbed for main game
Though neither player was selected for Sunday's All-Star game, James and Anthony are arguably the NBA's most anticipated rookie duo since Magic Johnson and Larry Bird -- and in a game mercifully free of defense, they put on a show worthy of the hype.
"It was great to be out there with a good friend," James said.
"I feel good just being out there with LeBron," Anthony said. "It's really special."
In their only competition of the weekend -- unless James changes his mind and accepts a spot in today's dunk contest -- the 19-year-old prodigies were the main attractions on a rookie team going against a squad of second-year pros led by Yao Ming and MVP Amare Stoudemire, who had 36 points and 11 rebounds.
Moved to prime time
James' pairing with Anthony was so enticing that the NBA moved the game from its usual spot in today's All-Star festivities, giving it a prime-time slot Friday night before a sellout crowd at Staples Center. While James provided most of the gasp-inducing highlights, Anthony scored 17 points.
Though sometimes sloppy and frequently one-sided, the game was fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining, with each player trying to outdo the last for 40 minutes. It was pure streetball -- and even the All-Stars might have trouble matching it.
"I enjoyed the whole game -- being in front of the crowd, putting on a show, the whole thing," Anthony said. "We'll see about what they can do on Sunday, but that was a show."
Stoudemire, last season's Rookie of the Year, made an incredible number of uncontested dunks. Carlos Boozer and Ronald Murray added 25 points apiece for the second-year pros, who made nearly 71 percent of their shots in the first half to turn it into a blowout.
"They're very exciting," Stoudemire said. "LeBron can get up in the air so high, and Carmelo has the all-around game. ... It's all about scoring out there, enjoying yourself and putting on a show."
Gold-colored shoes
James, wearing gold-colored shoes that wouldn't be legal during the regular season, gave a performance that steadily got better after losing the opening tip to Yao, who barely jumped to swat the ball away from the 6-foot-8 James.
Rookies coach Doug Collins used James and Anthony in tandem during the first half, substituting them together and taking advantage of their teamwork. They needed less than four minutes to hook up on a spectacular play.
Anthony got loose on a fast break and served up an underhand alley-oop to James, who slammed it home to delirious cheers. They teamed up again 21/2 minutes later, with Anthony throwing a longer pass for another emphatic slam by James.
Their third connection came with less than five minutes to play when Anthony dribbled under the hoop and tossed it up to James, who dunked from the other direction. They added one more in the final minute, when both teams abandoned any pretense of defense for an impromptu dunk contest.
Tosses shoes to crowd
James also threw down a two-handed behind-the-head slam in the final moments, and Anthony capped the game with a similar jam. After Stoudemire accepted his trophy, James tossed his new shoes into the crowd.
"We saw Carmelo and LeBron do some amazing things," Collins said. "This isn't one of my defensive tapes I'm going to send to anybody. ... At halftime, I said, 'At least let's not let them keep dunking.' I hope the fans enjoyed it."
James' favorite dunk came shortly after halftime, when he tossed a pass off the backboard to himself and rattled home a jam that had fans leaping from their seats.
"Everybody wanted to match my dunk off the glass tonight," James said. "I just go up and be creative. (Backboard passes) are not out of style at all."
Though the game was sold out on the opening night of All-Star festivities, about half the lower bowl was empty as fans fought rush-hour traffic to make it to the game. Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles native Baron Davis and rapper Jay-Z were among the celebrities who made it to the arena in time to see the showcase.