Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James faced off once again as the captains and leading vote-getters from their respective conferences at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They were joined by first-time starters Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Indianapolis as the game shifts back to the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format for the first time since 2017.
In the end, it was Lillard and the East who took control. After the highest scoring first half in All-Star Game history, the East rolled to a 211-186 win over the West. Lillard had 39 points and hit 11 3 pointers, and was named the game’s MVP. There were several records set, too, and the Eastern Conference became the first team to ever score above 200 points in the event.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all the action, including highlights, score updates and the result:
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Oh wow, that was a lot of boos in Indianapolis. Tyrese Haliburton was very clearly the hometown pick for MVP.
And there it is. Damian Lillard is the All-Star Game MVP. Lillard had 39 points and six assists, and shot 11-of-23 from behind the arc. He’s won the Kobe Byrant MVP Trophy.
OK, we’re done here. The East wins the All-Star Game 211-186.
Oh yeah, and Karl-Anthony Towns has a 50-piece.
For the first time in All-Star Game history, we’ve hit 200.
The East breaks the 2016 record of 196 points in the All-Star Game an becomes the first team ever to break 200.
That 3-pointer from Jaylen Brown broke the record for most 3-pointers by one team in the All-Star Game (36). The previous record of 35 was set by Team LeBron in 2019.
The MVP is Damian Lillard’s to lose entering the fourth quarter. He’s up to 33 points (12-20 FG, 9-17 3P) and five assists. The hometown heroTyrese Haliburton is still second at 24 points (8-10 3P). He has seven rebounds and five assists (#tripledoublewatch). Boston Celtics teammates Jaylen Brown (23 points) and Jayson Tatum (20 points) are both up to 20 points, too, for the East, which leads, 160-136, through three quarters.
Oh no, Luka …
The third quarter’s done with the East in control, 160-136. Damian Lillard has 33 points, and Tyrese Halliburton has 24.
Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, got tricky to set up Damian Lillard.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the self assist:
Crowd counting down Giannis as he’s at the foul line. Giannis actually bobs his head in acknowledgement. Most energy in this place all night.
No LeBron to start the second half, Steph in his place. No matter, Dame hitting back to back 3s could wrap up the MVP before we can finish yawning.
Here’s Dame setting up Halliburton for his 8th 3-pointer. Not a West defender in sight.
LeBron done for the night?
It appears LeBron James’ night could be over. He did not start the second half for the Western Conference. He planned to play sparingly on the injured left ankle that kept him from the final game before the All-Star break.”I won’t be playing the entire game tonight, for sure,” he said. “I can get out there and run around with the young guys for a little bit, and then shut it down at some point to give my ankle another opportunity to rest.” James also rested the second half of last year’s All-Star Game with what a “hand contusion” that did not prevent him from playing any games after the break.
Hopes of a competitive game continue to dwindle.
It’s officially the Damian Lillard/Tyrese Halliburton show. Dame just connected from halfcourt, and the East leads, 132-105. Lillard has 33 points and 9 3-pointers on 16 attempts. Halliburton has 24 points while hitting 8 of 9 from long distance.
Tyrese Haliburton drops another 3. He’s now 7 for 8 from distance.
And the third quarter is underway. Will the West try to make things competitive?
Here’s Jennifer Hudson’s halftime show.
The East shot 55.6% from the field and 45.8% from 3-point distance with a grand total of two free-throw attempts in the first half. The West countered with 56.3% shooting from the field and 37.9% from 3-point distance and one free-throw attempt. Not a lot of actual basketball going on here, as usual.
3-point barrage
The All-Stars have a chance to beat every 3-point record …
Most 3-pointers attempted by one team: 90 (Team LeBron, 2019). The East has attempted 48. Most 3-pointers made by one team: 35 (Team LeBron, 2019). The East has made 22. Most 3-pointers attempted by both teams: 167 (2019). This year’s teams have attempted 76. Most 3-pointers made by both teams: 62 (2019). This year’s teams have made 32.
Jennifer Hudson with the halftime show accompanied by the HBCU Winston Salem State marching band.
Stephen Curry’s tied with Kevin Durant for the West lead with 12 points off the bench on 4 of 7 3-point shots.
Damian Lillard making a move
Damian Lillard closed the gap on Tyrese Haliburton and maybe even surpassed him in the hunt for MVP at halftime. Lillard is up to a game-high 22 points (8-13 FG, 6-11 3P) and three assists to Haliburton’s 18 points (6-7 FG, 6-7 3P) and three assists. They have the East up 104-89 at the break. Nobody on the West has more than Kevin Durant’s 12 points.
Damian Lillard overtook Tyrese Haliburton as the game’s leading scorer. Dame has 22 points and hit 6 of 11 3-point attempts. Halliburton’s not far behind with 18. The Pacers All-Star hit 6 of 7 from deep. Six East players in double figu
One half’s in the books. East remains in control with a 104-89 lead. Point total is the highest for a half in ASG history.
Nikola Jokic above the rim. Kind of:
Halfcourt alley-oop from Trae Young to Giannis Antetokounmpo. East is in control. Will the West mount a challenge, or will we have another non-competitive game?
Here’s Dame’s fifth 3-pointer of the half. He and Halliburton are now sharing the East backcourt late in the second quarter, vying for MVP honors:
Doc in a purple, velvet jacket! The coolest man in the room, any room he’s in.
Paul George and LeBron James connect for one of the highlights of the game:
Tricky Trae Young gets Kevin Durant with a nutmeg:
Damian Lillard’s now the scoring leader. His fifth 3-pointer midway through the second quarter get him to 17 points.
LeBron James 3-of-9 early in the 2nd quarter for six points. He’s struggling with his shot.
It’s the reserves’ time to shine in the second quarter. Donovan Mitchell with a playground 3-pointer off one leg:
Giving it their all?
Trying to figure out the line of demarcation on All-Star competitiveness … 2015 in NYC? Was that the last natural one before things went haywire?
Tyrese Haliburton making MVP plays
Tyrese Haliburton made his first five 3-pointers before missing a 40-foot heat check. He added a beautiful behind-the-back pass through traffic to Giannis Antetokounmpo for a transition dunk, finishing with a game-high 15 points (nobody else has double digits) and two assists in the opening quarter. He is your early MVP favorite.
First quarter’s in the books. East leads, 53-47.
Pacers All-Star Tyrese Halliburton has the leg up on MVP with 15 points on five made 3-pointers. Kevin Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have seven each to lead the West.
Big ovation for Sabrina Ionescu, following last night’s 3-point competition with Stephen Curry.
LeBron James and Damian Lillard with dueling highlights:
LeBron James airballs a 3 and immediately walks to the bench.
