The 73rd NBA All-Star Game was exciting and entertaining as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference with a score of 211-186 in Indianapolis.
Damian Lillard from the Milwaukee Bucks was named the All-Star MVP after scoring 39 points in a game that saw a total of 397 points scored, breaking the previous record of 374 set in 2017.
Lillard, reflecting on his performance, stated in quotes published by AP: “To be able to have this kind of accomplishment, it’s special.”
The Eastern team scored 42 3-pointers, beating Team LeBron’s 35 in 2019. They also broke the record for points scored in the first half with 193, surpassing the previous record of 191 set in 2023.
The East tied a record for most points scored in a half with 104 by halftime. They attempted 97 3-pointers, breaking Team LeBron’s total of 90 in 2019.
Between the two teams, 66 3-pointers were made out of 168 attempted.
The last two records surpassed the previous highs of 62 and 167, which were set during the All-Star game five years ago.
Additionally, there were 163 field goals made out of 289 attempts, breaking the 2017 and 2016 records of 162 and 286.
Notable players of the night included Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics scoring 32 points, Tyrese Haliburton with 36 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo with 23 points, and Jayson Tatum with 20 points.
“We had fun,” said East captain Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On the other hand, the Western team also made a significant impact in the game. Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota scored an impressive 50 points in just 28 minutes, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder contributed an additional 31 points.
“The shot-making from the East was incredible,” said Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.
“Hard to play defence when somebody’s shooting 30-, 40-footers over you.”
LeBron James participated in his 20th All-Star Game, further extending his existing record. He also mentioned: “The good thing that came out of tonight is none of the players were injured,” James said. “Everybody came out unscathed.”The next NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 16, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, and many will be hoping for a repeat of this year’s match.
