Eastern Conference guard Damian Lillard (0) of the Milwaukee Bucks, guard Tyrese Maxey (0) of the Philadelphia 76ers, and ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks obtain the trophy following their victory towards the Western Conference All-Stars in the 73rd NBA All Star recreation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Damian Lillard wished to do one thing particular in his eighth NBA All-Star Game.
His pull-up 3-pointer from half courtroom delivered a stunning spotlight. A postgame announcement in which he was named NBA All-Star Game MVP for the primary time offered an ideal end.
Lillard scored 39 points and drained 11 3-pointers to lead the Eastern Conference to a record-setting 211-186 win over the Western Conference on Sunday evening in Indianapolis.
“It’s an honour,” mentioned Lillard, who’s in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks. “I’ve been here quite a few times, so to have this kind of accomplishment is special. Any time you have this type of experience enough, you want to have this (specific) experience — you want to be All-Star Game MVP.”
The Eastern Conference shattered the file for many points by a crew in an All-Star Game. The earlier mark was 196 points, which late Los Angeles Lakers nice Kobe Bryant and the Western Conference notched throughout the 2016 All-Star Game.
Boston Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown added 36 points on 15-for-23 taking pictures for the Eastern Conference in the win. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton completed with 32 points on 11-for-15 taking pictures to delight followers who watched him play on his house courtroom.
“I was just going to keep shooting until I missed,” Haliburton mentioned. “(I was) just having fun, playing basketball. I didn’t know how many minutes I was going to play, didn’t know how my leg would feel, but I felt good (Sunday). …
“It wasn’t excessive depth in any respect, however it feels good that I felt good, and hopefully I can proceed that shifting ahead.”
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves led the Western Conference with 50 points on 23-for-35 shooting. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 31 points on 12-for-16 shooting, including a 7-for-10 mark from long distance.
Towns said Anthony Edwards, his Timberwolves teammate and a fellow All-Star, kept encouraging him to score more.
“He was breaking down the points to me on the bench,” Towns said. “I knew it was one thing particular as a result of even (Stephen Curry) bought up and was like, ‘Get 50. Get 50.'”
The contest was dominated by 3-pointers and dunks, as neither facet devoted a lot vitality or consideration to protection.
The Eastern Conference shot 56.8 p.c (83-for-146) from the sphere and 43.3 p.c (42-for-97) from 3-point vary. The Western Conference shot 55.9 p.c (80-for-143) total and 35.2 p.c (25-for-71) from past the arc.
LeBron James made historical past by enjoying in his twentieth All-Star Game. The 39-year-old surpassed fellow Los Angeles Lakers nice Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who earned 19 alternatives.
The profession milestone didn’t equate to a memorable efficiency on the courtroom for James. He completed with eight points on 4-for-10 taking pictures, and he missed all three of his 3-point makes an attempt.
The Eastern Conference led 104-89 on the half. Lillard had 22 points earlier than the break, together with a half-dozen 3-pointers, to assist his crew seize a 15-point lead.
Lillard maintained his scorching hand in the second half. He drained a spot-up shot from half courtroom throughout the third quarter to make it 132-105. After the shot swished by way of the basket, Lillard prolonged his arms right into a full wingspan and walked again towards the defensive finish.
The Eastern Conference scored at the least 50 points in all 4 quarters.
The Western Conference scored 47 points in the primary quarter, 42 in the second, 47 in the third and 50 in the fourth.
