NBA All-Star Game Takeaways: Durant leads big Team LeBron comeback

Kevin Durant took home MVP honours as the he helped Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 178-164 at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

After having to come back from as many as 20 points, Team LeBron out lasted Team Giannis, 178-164, to win the NBA All-Star game.

LeBron James and company won $350,000 for Right Moves For Youth, a Charlotte charity that helps high schoolers prepare for the real world. As runners up Team Giannis, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, won $150,00 for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, also a charity based in Charlotte.

Kevin Durant took home the MVP Award, leading Team LeBron with 31 points and seven rebounds while shooting 6-9 from three. Antetokounmpo led all players with 38 points while and James had 19.

In all, 17 players had double-digit points by the end of the night. There wasn’t much defence but it was an entertaining game because the level of competitiveness and shot making on the offensive end was impressive, plus the athleticism on display was breathtaking. Last year’s change of having captains pick teams hasn’t made the game closer to real basketball with any defensive intensity, but it has made it more exciting.

Here are some takeaways from the 68th NBA All-Star game.

Anthony Hamilton’s Star-Spangled Banner

North Carolina native Anthony Hamilton sang the U.S. national anthem with a soulful twist that drew comparisons to Marvin Gaye’s legendary version during the 1983 All-Star Game.

Let’s just say it was much better than Fergie’s performance from a year ago.

Threes a plenty

This is the era of prolific three-point shooting and this All-Star game reflected that. Team LeBron took 91 three-point attempts, an all-star game record, and hit 35. The combined 62 made threes the teams finished with was also a record although the combined 167 attempts was not.

Team LeBron hit 12 three point shots in the third quarter alone and they had already set the record for most combined three pointers made with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. While Team LeBron used the long ball to their advantage, Team Giannis couldn’t and their 17 missed three pointers in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game.

Bucks buddies

Team Giannis had 53 points in the first quarter, tying an All-Star game record. Much of that was due to the dominant play by the teammates representing the best team in the east. Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton combined for 25 points and five assists in seven minutes of play. Through the first eight minutes of the game, the Bucks duo had more points (28) than all of Team LeBron (26).

Antetokounmpo had 20 in the first half, shooting 10-12, with five rebounds and four assists. Middleton added 17 points on his own, with 6-8 shooting, 5-7 from three and three assists. Because of the Bucks, including Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer on the bench, it was 95-82 at halftime for Team Giannis.

They slowed down in the second half but Antetokounmpo finished with a game-high 38 points while Middleton finished with 20.

Last dance for two legends

Adam Silver pulled a commissioner’s exemption and added Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki to the All-Star rosters to give the future hall-of-famers one final chance to play on the big stage.

They both entered the game together with 56.6 seconds to play in the first quarter to a loud ovation, then both went off shooting threes. Nowitzki hit two three’s in his first two minutes on the court and added another heat check before half, making this game the first time he’s has hit two 30-foot threes in a game. At halftime both were honoured with commemorative All-Star jerseys.

Kawhi Leonard shows off

Kawhi Leonard said he is a “fun guy” and he showed his game transfers to playground basketball the same way it plays in playoff basketball. Leonard finished with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists, plus three made shots from distance. Given he was injured at this time last year it was a sentimental moment for Leonard to get back to the big game and play so well in it.

In a classy move by Leonard, he let Wade have his own sentimental moment by starting the second half in his place. His Raptors teammate Kyle Lowry didn’t fare as well, with just three points, three rebounds and three assists in 12 minutes, shooting 1-5 from three.

It was also the on-court debut of Leonard’s first signature shoe with New Balance.

Curry home cooking

Kemba Walker was the representative for the hometown Charlotte Hornets but the fan favourite was hometown kid Stephen Curry. Curry was born in Charlotte and tried to put on a show for the fans after getting the loudest ovation when the starters were introduced. In the end he finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists but the degree of difficulty on his shots is what was most impressive.

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