HOUSTON -- Kenneth Faried had 40 points and 10 rebounds and entertained the crowd at the end with a series of dunks, leading Team Chuck to a 163-135 victory over Team Shaq in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night.

Faried, in his second season with Denver, made 18-of-22 shots and was selected the game's Most Valuable Player. He'll compete Saturday night in the dunk contest at All-Star Weekend and offered a sneak preview of what he has planned with a series of powerful jams.

For the second straight year, the rosters of both teams were a mix of rookie and second-year players and former stars Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley served as opposing general managers.

Kenneth Faried gave the crowd a preview of what he's planning for the dunk contest during his MVP-worthy performance in the Rising Stars game. AP Photo/Ronald Martinez, Pool

Sacramento point guard Isaiah Thomas had 18 points and 10 assists for Barkley's team. Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving, last year's MVP, scored 32 points and rookie Dion Waiters, Irving's Cavs' teammate, added 23 for Shaq's team.

The average score of the game over the past five seasons was 138-131, and New Orleans rookie Anthony Davis set the tone with an alley-oop pass to San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard for a dunk 20 seconds into the game.

Barkley's team finished virtually all of their first-half possessions with uncontested 3-pointers or dunks and led 90-66 at halftime.

Team Chuck went 12 for 18 from 3-point range in the first half and Thomas hit his first four tries. Cleveland forward Tristan Thompson was the only player on Barkley's team who didn't hit a 3 in the half, but he made up for it with four dunks.

Thomas also had seven of Team Chuck's 25 first-half assists. Barkley's team made 37-of-56 shots (66 percent) in the half.