Salt Lake City, Feb. 20 (US): Jason Tatum puts in a record-breaking performance, and Giannis Antetokounmo makes it look like a genius.
Tatum scored an All-Star Game record 55 points on his way to winning the MVP award, and Giannis’ team ended LeBron James’ decade as All-Star captaincy by defeating Team LeBron 184-175 in the NBA’s annual exhibition show Sunday night.
Tatum had 27 points in the third quarter, another All-Star Game record for any period. The Associated Press reported that he was Antetokounmpo’s first pick in the junior portion of the All-Star Draft, and in the end, that pick proved to be the right pick.
And the MVP award given to Tatum is named after Kobe Bryant, one of his heroes.
“She means the world,” said Tatum. “You think of all the legends and great players that have played this game, and in all honesty, records are being broken. I’m going to keep them as long as I can, but I’m sure someone will come in a few years and try to break them.”
Tatum broke Anthony Davis’ All-Star game record of 52 points. It was 22-of-31 from the ground, as well as 10 rebounds and six assists.
This loss was James’ first in six appearances as captain. Antetokounmpo improved to 1-2 in the All-Star captaincy, and became the first captain to lift a new trophy presented to the winners of the All-Star Game.
“Winner, winner, chicken dinner,” Antetokounmpo said.
Later, in a more solemn tone, Antetokounmpo said he had a reason for choosing Tatum.
He said, “I knew he was going to take it seriously. It was a no-brainer.”
Donovan Mitchell added 40 points for Giannis, who collected 26 from Damian Lillard including the game winner to lead his team past the goal.
Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for LeBron, while Kyrie Irving scored 32 points and 15 assists, and Joel Embiid scored 32 points.
Boston teammates Brown and Tatum were enjoying a back-and-forth duel during the second half period.
“It was a pretty normal day for us,” said Tatum. “Only millions of people are watching.”
Lillard, the winner of a 3-point contest on All-Star Saturday Night, scored eight seconds including a half-court touchdown in the third quarter.
“That was the worst basketball game I’ve ever seen,” LeBron head coach Michael Malone said, clearly mocking the optional defense event.
He has a very simple strategy, said winning coach Joe Mazzola of Giannis.
“Stay out of the way, have fun with it, have fun, let the guys be themselves,” Mazzola said. “I think it’s important, especially in this league, for the guys to be themselves.”
The league held a ceremony before the second half to honor the three leading scorers in NBA history: No. 3 Karl Malone, No. 2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James, now the game’s captain after being passed by Abdul-Jabbar earlier this year. Month.
Malone and Abdul-Jabbar were brought to the stage, then Dwyane Wade’s former Miami bandmate and now one of the Jazz’s owners introduced James to bring him to the stage.
“We’ve all been witnesses,” Wade said. “No matter the challenge, no matter the hype, it was tough.”
With the number 38388 displayed behind him, James raised his hand to thank the crowd for their applause, and Abdul-Jabbar and Malone hugged. He did not return to the game, and his night ended with a bruise on his right hand.
He finished with 13 points, and said a chasing block in the first half resulted in him hitting his finger on the rim.
“Precautionary reasons,” James said.
James played half. The captain of the other match did not play half a minute.
Antetokoumpo drafted his team before the game, had a warm-up (like the one it had) and started the game as planned.
But his right wrist was wrapped, which was an ominous sign. The injury kept him out of Saturday’s All-Star skills event, limiting him to 20 seconds in the event. He got an uncontested dunk to open the game, then made a foul and headed to the bench.
“Whatever I have, I will give,” Antitetokunmo said. “This is who I am. That will never change.”
As in years past, the teams have played for charity, with Team LeBron raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and Team Giannis for Raise the Future, which connects waiting youth in foster care with stable adults. Each team started with $150,000, with the first three quarters worth another $100,000 each and the winner of the All-Star Game getting another $150,000.
The teams were tied at 46-46 in the first quarter, and Giannis’ team took the second quarter 53-46. Team Giannis also won the third quarter 59-49, the cumulative score to that point 158-141, Team Giannis meant that 182 would be the score to be reached in the untimed fourth quarter by the end of the target score.
Team Giannis won $550,000 for charity, and Team LeBron won $200,000. And Tatum, just as he vowed he would at his first All-Star Game in 2020 when the award was named after Bryant won the award he’d been wanting for a while.
“Icing on the cake,” said Tatum.
Tip-ins
Team Giannis: Two points keep Antetokounmpo leading the all-time All-Stars. He now averages 25.1 points in All-Star games, ahead of Kevin Durant (25.0). Without that basket, his average was 24.9. … Jrue Holiday took Antetokounmpo’s place in the starting line-up for the second half.
TEAM LEBRON: Two-time Denver MVP Nikola Jokic became the first player to start the All-Star Game on his birthday. He turned 28 on Sunday. The only other player to appear in the All-Star Game on his birthday, the NBA said, was Larry Nance Sr. in 1989. … The first half lasted 42 minutes. … Paul George started for James in the second half.
214 countries
Last year’s All-Star Game was broadcast in 215 countries; This year, it was shown in 214 countries. The omission was Russia. The NBA does not show its games in Russia and hasn’t shown it for nearly a year. The League suspended its business activities with Russia in March 2022, just days after that country invaded Ukraine.
the reviewer
The referee’s crew, consisting of John Goebel, Mark Lindsay and Michael Smith, participated in the match.
the next
Indianapolis will host the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend, scheduled for February 16-18, 2024. The city was supposed to hold the 2021 game, but it was moved to Atlanta and significantly curtailed due to the pandemic.
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