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INDIANAPOLIS – The NBA All-Star Game set historic numbers Sunday night.
The East defeated the West 211-186, scoring the most points in the All-Star Game, and Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard was named All-Star Game MVP.
Lillard made half-court shots with ease, going 11-of-23 from deep and scoring 39 points in his first All-Star start. He won Saturday’s event, becoming the second player in NBA history to win MVP of the All-Star Game Sunday in the same year.
first? Michael Jordan (slam dunk, MVP) in 1988.
Lillard was one of three players on the East team to score at least 30 points Sunday. Celtics forward Jaylen Brown scored 36 points off the bench, while Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton dropped 15 of his 32 points right after the box at a packed Gainbridge Field in his hometown. It thrilled the house crowd of 17,251.
Timberwolves big Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 50 points, just five points shy of the All-Star Game record of 55 points set by Celtics guard Jayson Tatum last year.
Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Durant scored 18 points and Devin Booker scored 15 points. Here are some takeaways from this year’s All-Star Weekend.
not yet competitive
The elements were in place for a more competitive game.
LeBron James will play in his 20th All-Star Game, the most in history. Young players with fresh legs like Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, and Tyrese Maxey. The latter three were selected as All-Stars for the first time.
Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James and Durant are still in the game. Paul George returns to Indiana. NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants a more competitive matchup.
Haliburton’s quick start, hitting his first five threes, provided the needed energy and got the Indy crowd excited, but as the game wore on, the players didn’t try to defend, especially in transition.
And once Lillard started cooking, East took command and never looked back.
The crowd was quiet for most of the second half, proving that just because the ball goes into the basket at breakneck speed, it doesn’t mean it’s entertaining. Lillard even admitted he leaked out too much for an open transition opportunity.
This is the contract. The players aren’t trying to get hurt.
Heat big bum Adebayo literally said he wants to have fun on Saturday and avoid injury on Sunday. And after the game, Booker said that while it’s difficult to find a balance between competing and staying healthy, he believes his players are more focused on their team than playing in the All-Star Game.
Additionally, Lillard noted that this game was at an all-time high in terms of shot making. Durant even admitted that it’s difficult to play defense when players are shooting “40 feet.”
Still, the game should be more competitive – and reduce the number of 3-point shots. Everyone loves deep balls, but did they hoist 168 times from three, setting a record for the most by both teams? East set an All-Star Game record with 97 3s, breaking the previous record of 90 set by Team LeBron in 2019. This year, both teams combined to make 167 three-point shots.
booker’s world
Booker also had a weekend before the game.
With the release of the Nike Book 1 signature shoe on Saturday, Nike placed Booker Megatron-sized billboards all over downtown Indianapolis.
The shoe took two years to make, but Booker’s journey to this point in his career dates back to his childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he dreamed of playing in the NBA.
Currently, he is one of the best players in the game and is a four-time All-Star with his signature shoe.
Life is pretty good for Booker right now.
Jaylen Brown’s 65 Game Rule Comments
Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown first tried to navigate questions about the 65-game rule for major postseason awards like MVP and All-NBA.
“Honestly, it’s tough because I think no matter what award you win, you’re going to have to play a good portion of the season,” Brown said after Saturday’s practice.
On top of that, he said that 65 games was “a little too tough,” and suggested “58 games,” which is slightly less than 65 games.
Um oh.
Brown’s comments set social media ablaze. Fans were outraged and went back to saying players were making too much money and not playing enough games.
Considering Brown is on a five-year, $304 million contract, the richest in franchise history, his comments are even more offensive to fans who already have issues with players due to their wealth. It felt like.
Please keep this in mind. Brown, who has appeared in 50 of Boston’s 55 games this season, is also vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, which agreed to the rule as part of a new collective bargaining agreement.
This is a sensitive issue for the players, but they have come to an agreement after years of load management. Fans were already frustrated with players missing games.
Brown’s comments added to their disappointment.
Amazing historic shooting at NBA All-Star Saturday night
Before Sabrina vs. Stephens, the highlight of the night was Damian Lillard clinching his second consecutive 3-point contest with his final shot.
Sabrina Ionescu challenges Stephen Curry to a 3-point contest, Curry accepts the challenge, and the two join forces to put on a show Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium that eclipses everything that has happened before or since. was unveiled.
Ionescu got off to a hot start to get the crowd going and ended up scoring 26 points, but Curry responded with 29 points. Curry did a dance after passing the total in the final ruck, but it was special to see him and Ionescu celebrating the historic moment and each other.
Players play. The archer shoots. period.
Especially since the 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be held in San Francisco, and Ionescu is from Walnut Creek, California, he’s looking forward to watching the game again next year. I hope she finds a way to incorporate the WNBA into the match, even if it’s not a Sabrina vs. Stephen rematch. A festival like the one we used to have in the past.
As for the dunk contest, Mac McClung achieved the feat of winning the dunk contest for the second year in a row. Kudos to the G League, but overall his dunk contests aren’t up to that level.
Everyone feels like they have to jump over someone. What the contest needs is someone who can glide through the air like Dr. J, Michael Jordan, or Zach LaVine, or someone with a really ridiculous hop and a high level of creativity like Vince Carter.
where is that person?
Babyface and Jennifer Hudson celebrated their accomplishments.
Legendary R&B singer Babyface’s rendition of the national anthem on guitar was very elegant and classy. Rocking the hue, the babyface is the epitome of cool.
Jennifer Hudson then brought the song to halftime with Winston-Salem’s Red Sea of Sound Marching Band.
Great performances are always a part of NBA All-Star weekend.
Have an opinion on the current state of the Suns? Contact Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or 480-787-1240. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter). @Duane Rankin.
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