73rd NBA All-Star Game: East Beats West (211-186) to Cap Record-Breaking Weekend in Indianapolis... Like It Or Not
Defense, anyone? There was none of that for 72 hours of basketball in Indianapolis this weekend, and I loved it. No matter your take on NBA All-Star Weekend’s event schedule, style of play, or format, we’re going to stay positive here, team. Yes, the dunk contest is broken. Yes, the lack of defense in the All-Star Game is almost comical. And above all, yes, it was a cold, snowy, blizzard-like weekend in Indy. But you know what? It was epic. Warriors' hothead Draymond Green can say whatever he wants
about my state (and city). Indy smashes it out of the park for major events. There's a reason Green had a microphone instead of a jersey this weekend as he threw punches (pun intended) at Indiana -- a place where basketball reigns supreme. Anger issues need not apply in this All-Star recap. But go ahead, Draymond. Wax poetic all the way to your seat... a seat somewhere in the stands and not on the court at All-Star Weekend.
Sometimes, there's beauty in imperfection. I slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk rushing to the Celebrity Game on Friday. I booed another lackluster dunk contest with horrendous judging on Saturday. And I gleefully watched as 397 points were posted on a Sunday night where defense turned to dust. Celebrities and superstars were around every corner for three straight nights in downtown Indy
— celebs like 50 Cent, Lil’ Wayne, Larry Bird and Mark Cuban. You know? Much bigger celebs than Draymond Green. And it was a blast.
Love it or hate it, it's a celebration of the 24 best players on the planet (sorry Draymond, not you) playing pick-up-style games with the pageantry turned up to level 100. Worth. Every. Penny. So regardless of the negative commentary about Indiana's weather or its "vibe," and the competition scrooges who require defense in an All-Star Game, this weekend was basketball bliss. Thanks, NBA! Here are some of the best highlights from a three-day celebration with some of the biggest stars in the world, all in one place... and me (the only one attempting to play defense in Indy).
The Highest-Scoring All-Star Game Ever
Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game broke the scoring record
with the Eastern Conference beating the Western Conference (211-186) in the return to the old East-West format for the first time since 2017. The East passed the 200-mark with time to spare, and the 397 combined points obliterated the previous record of 374. Karl-Anthony Towns was the game’s high-scorer with 50 points as he started hunting dunks down the stretch. There were a handful of funny moments with European players like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic clowning around. Trae Young megged Kevin Durant. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Brown both put up 30-plus on hot-shooting nights. But the controversy? That came with the All-Star MVP nod as two Eastern Conference guards
— who are likely to meet again this spring — jockeyed for shots in the 4th.
Damian Lillard Wins All-Star MVP
With Indianapolis playing host to the All-Star festivities, Pacers’ guard Tyrese Haliburton was the hometown star of the weekend. And Bucks’ guard Damian Lillard wasn’t having it. You might remember the Pacers ousted the Bucks in the NBA In-Season Tournament, and Indy fans were booing Lillard all weekend long. Both Haliburton (Skills Challenge) and Lillard (3-Point Contest) split Saturday night awards. Haliburton wowed the home crowd on Sunday by scoring 32 points on 10-for-14 shooting from 3, and he started 5-for-5 from deep. It was Haliburton's show. At least, it was supposed to be. Lillard (11-for-23, 3-pt) tallied 39 points, but he took a dozen more shots, much to the dismay of the Indy fans pulling for Haliburton. To his credit, Dame did drill a pair of half-court pull-up jumpers. You could feel the energy in the building shift late, almost as if Dame was pulling the trigger and refusing to let Haliburton win the weekend. The Bucks-Pacers rivalry is real.
End result? Lillard, MVP. Haliburton, snubbed.
Fun Fact:
Damian Lillard is the second player in NBA history to win a Saturday night event and the All-Star Game MVP in the same weekend. The other? Michael Jordan (1988).
Editor's Recap:
Say what you will about the competition level of the All-Star Game — it’s a strange event and likely not ideal for traditional basketball purists — but it’s meant to be a casual affair. For me, it was one of the few irregular sporting events remaining on my bucket list, and it was awesome.
Watch: East Beats West (211-186) in Highest-Scoring All-Star Game Ever
NBA All-Star Game (Top Scorers)
K. Towns (MIN): 50 Points, 8 Rebounds
D. Lillard (MIL): 39 Points (11-for-23, 3pt)
J. Brown (BOS): 36 Points (6-or-12, 3pt)
T. Haliburton (IND): 32 Points (10-for-14, 3pt)
S. Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 31 Points (7-for-10, 3pt)
More Videos & Storylines
B/R:
LeBron James Talks 20th All-Star Game on Inside the NBA
ESPN: NBA Again Left Seeking Solutions After Uncompetitive All-Star Game
Yahoo! Sports: 2024 NBA All-Star Game: It’s a Shooting Showcase for Lillard, Haliburton in Blowout East Win
