Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game turned into an extension of Saturday’s 3-point shooting contest.
Hometown All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard put on a show from long distance as the Eastern Conference cruised to a 211-186 win over the Western Conference. The East effort marked the first 200-point performance in All-Star Game history. The previous scoring record was 196 points by the West in 2016.
Lillard, fresh off his second straight 3-point contest victory, earned MVP honors on a 39-point night.
As usual for the All-Star Game, defense was at a premium as the West did little to keep things competitive after the East opened a 53-47 first-quarter lead.
Haliburton got off to a scorching start in his first appearance as an All-Star starter, hitting five 3-pointers in a span of 92 seconds to give the East an early 20-14 advantage. The run set the Pacers guard up as the early MVP favorite for the Indianapolis All-Star Game.
But Lillard went on his own binge through the second quarter and entered halftime with 22 points on a 6-of-11 effort from 3-point distance. By then, the East led, 104-89 in the highest-scoring half in All-Star Game history.
In the third quarter, Lillard showed off his ridiculous range with a 3-pointer from halfcourt.
Lillard and Haliburton continued to set each other up in the second half with little resistance from Western Conference defenders.
Lillard rested for much of the fourth quarter and finished with 39 points and six assists while shooting 11 of 23 from 3-point distance.
Haliburton tallied 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists while shooting 10 of 14 from 3-point distance.
When NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced Lillard as MVP postgame, the Indianapolis crowd greeted the decision with boos.
Silver also sounded less than enthusiastic about scoring barrage when presenting the winner’s trophy to Eastern Conference captain Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“To the Eastern Conference All-Stars, you scored the most points,” Silver said. “Well, congratulations.”
In the end, East players combined to hit 42 of 97 (43.3%) 3-pointers, shattering the previous record of 36 for a single team in an All-Star Game. Jaylen Brown got in on the shooting showcase with a 36-point effort off the bench while connecting on 6 of 12 shots from long distance.
Karl-Anthony Towns countered with a game-high 50 points alongside eight rebounds and three assists off the bench for the West while shooting 23 of 35 from the floor and 4 of 13 from long distance.
He scored his 50th point on a turnaround 3-pointer in the game’s final minute.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points, five assists and four rebounds. Their effort did little to counter the long-distance onslaught from the East.
The East shot 56.8% from the field as eight players scored in double figures. The West shot 55.9% from the field, but couldn’t match the East’s long-distance prowess on a 25-of-71 (35.2%) night. Seven players scored in double figures for the East.
The 67 combined made 3-pointers also set a new All-Star Game record, besting the previous number of 62 set in 2019. The East and West combined to attempt five free throws on Sunday.
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