Team LeBron Wins Again, Giannis Takes the MVP Award

All-Star Game in Atlanta saw Team LeBron posting another win, the fourth in a row, this time against Team Durant. The final result of this contest was 170-150 for the squad picked by the Lakers’ No.23.

The focal point of this match was the reigning NBA MVP, Giannis Antotekounmpo, who won the MVP honors tonight as well with a masterful performance. Giannis scored 35 points in 19 minutes, not missing a single shot. He was by far the best player in tonight’s exhibition.

“You know, usually it is closed [on Sundays],” Antetokounmpo said, “but for me, it was open extended hours.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Fi_nkUH_4

Giannis’ 16-for-16 from the field (including three threes) is the best shooting performance at one All-Star game ever, and he simply had to win the honors even though Damian Lillard and Steph Curry both had their shot at the prize as well.

Curry, who previously won the three-point shooting contest, had 28 points while Lillard dropped 32, including the three that ended the match.

Team LeBron made one big run, just before halftime, once they reached a 100-80 lead. After that, it was all a routine for the more experienced players in that squad who would keep the distance without any particular problems. Coming into the final 12 minutes, they had 21 points more than the rivals, who needed to score 45 buckets before Team LeBron reaches 24, according to the “Elam Ending.”

NBA’s leading scorer Bradley Beal was the best in Team Durant with 26 points, while the Brooklyn Nets’ duo Kyrie Irving and James Harden had 24 and 21, respectively.

LeBron James had just four points, and it was obvious that King James wasn’t fired up for competing as usual. He would already announce that way before the All-Star weekend, suggesting that with all the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemics, he isn’t that pumped up about the ASG.

The tension in Atlanta was increased even more with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid being ruled out for the match due to contact tracing. Their barber turned out to be positive for the virus, and the 76ers’ stars had to miss the game. It is still unknown whether they would have to sit out for a few matches following the pause.

We’ve mentioned that Steph Curry won the three-point shooting title, with the two-time MVP defeating Mike Conley in the finals by one point. That difference was made with Curry hitting the moneyball in the last shot and earning two points which would surpass Utah’s veteran. After 2015 this is the second title for Curry.

“I could hear whatever crowd was in here, I could hear the temperature rise a little bit,” Curry said. “I knew I had to knock it down. It was a fun battle.”

In the most anticipated competition of the night, the Slam Dunk contest, Portland’s Anfernee Simons lifted the trophy. Unlike before, the judges didn’t grade dunks in the final round, but they had to pick the better one, and the Trail Blazers youngster defeated the New York Knicks’ rookie forward, Obi Toppin, 3-2.

The Skills Challenge saw the Indiana Pacers’ center Domantas Sabonis defeating Orlando Magic superstar Nikola Vucevic. In this battle of heavyweights, Sabonis was better for one bit, hitting a three-pointer before Vucevic.

“It was fun,” Sabonis said. “I wanted to come out and make sure I got it done this time.”

The 2022 NBA All-Star Game takes place in Cleveland, Ohio.