NBA All-Star Game: Best dunks, skills and action from Team LeBron vs. Team Durant
It was Team LeBron vs. Team Durant with LeBron James and Kevin Durant serving as captains. They drafted their teams earlier this week. The Utah Jazz, the team with the NBA’s best record, had Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert picked last.
Sunday’s festivities started with some drama as Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were ruled out of the game after coming in contact with a barber who later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Once the action started, Team LeBron ran away with the game, winning 170-150. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was perfect. He was 16-for-16 shooting with 35 points. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, Antetokounmpo recorded the highest field goal percentage (100%) for any player with at least 10 shot attempts in an All-Star Game. For his play, he was named the game’s MVP.
Here’s the best action from all the All-Star festivities:
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons won the slam dunk contest. He beat Cassius Stanley and Obi Toppin. Here’s a look at all of the dunks:
Cassius Stanley
Obi Toppin
Anfernee Simons
In the first round of the 3-point contest, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum went off. He racked up 25 points in the round. Then Steph Curry outdid him. He went for 31. Curry met Mike Conley in the final round, and Curry came out on top.
Curry is now a two-time winner of the 3-point contest. Curry joins Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Steve Nash as the only players with multiple MVPs and multiple wins in a single All-Star Game contest.
Indiana Pacers All-Star Domantas Sabonis won the skills challenge. Here’s his run to the win.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic, who went out in the first round, heard it from a Dallas Mavericks teammate.
The NBA is celebrating historically Black colleges and universities at the All-Star Game. Portland Trail Blazers all-star Robert Covington, a Tennessee State grad, also gave back. Covington awarded two Tennessee State students each with $25,000 scholarships.