NBA All-Star Game Turns into 3-Point Contest Showcase as Eastern Conference Dominates
The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday took an unexpected turn as it transformed into a showcase of long-range shooting skills, resembling Saturday’s 3-point contest. The Eastern Conference emerged victorious with a commanding 211-186 win over the Western Conference, thanks to the stellar performances of hometown All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard.
Lillard, who had just secured his second consecutive 3-point contest victory, was awarded the MVP honors for his outstanding 39-point performance. The Eastern Conference’s dominant display marked the first time in All-Star Game history that a team scored over 200 points. The previous record was set by the Western Conference in 2016 with a total of 196 points.
As has become customary in recent All-Star Games, defense took a backseat as both teams focused on putting on an exhibition rather than engaging in a competitive battle. The West failed to mount a significant challenge after the East established a 53-47 lead in the first quarter. Similarly, the East’s defense was lackluster, allowing the West to come close to breaking the previous scoring record despite their loss.
The game kicked off with Haliburton, making his first appearance as an All-Star starter, setting the court ablaze with five consecutive 3-pointers in just 92 seconds. His scorching start gave the East an early advantage of 20-14, making him an early favorite for the MVP title.
However, Lillard soon stole the spotlight with his own shooting spree during the second quarter. By halftime, he had amassed 22 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. The East held a commanding 104-89 lead at halftime, marking the highest-scoring half in All-Star Game history.
In the third quarter, Lillard showcased his incredible range by sinking a 3-pointer from half-court. Throughout the second half, both Lillard and Haliburton effortlessly set each other up for shots, facing minimal resistance from the Western Conference defenders.
Lillard took a well-deserved rest for most of the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 39 points, six assists, and an impressive 11-of-23 shooting from beyond the arc. Haliburton, on the other hand, contributed 32 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while shooting an outstanding 10-of-14 from 3-point range.
The announcement of Lillard as the MVP was met with boos from the Indianapolis crowd. NBA commissioner Adam Silver also seemed less than enthusiastic about the scoring barrage as he presented 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, the Eastern Conference players shattered the previous record for most 3-pointers made by a single team in an All-Star Game. They connected on an impressive 42-of-97 attempts (43.3%), surpassing the previous record of 36. Jaylen Brown also joined in on the shooting showcase with a remarkable 36-point performance off the bench, hitting 6-of-12 shots from long distance.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge for the West, scoring a game-high 50 points along with eight rebounds and three assists. He shot an impressive 23-of-35 from the field and 4-of-13 from beyond the arc. Towns reached his 50th point with a turnaround 3-pointer in the final minute of the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also put up an impressive performance for the West, contributing 31 points, six assists, and four rebounds. However, their efforts were overshadowed by the East’s long-distance prowess.
The East shot an impressive 56.8% from the field, with eight players scoring in double figures. The West, although shooting at a slightly lower percentage of 55.9%, couldn’t match the East’s proficiency from beyond the arc, finishing the night with a 25-of-71 (35.2%) shooting from 3-point range. Seven players from the West also scored in double figures.
The game set a new record for the most combined 3-pointers made in an All-Star Game, with a total of 67, surpassing the previous record of 62 set in 2019. Surprisingly, the teams only attempted five free throws throughout the entire game, emphasizing the focus on long-range shooting rather than traditional scoring methods.
Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game will be remembered as an exhibition of exceptional shooting skills, with the Eastern Conference dominating the Western Conference. The game showcased the talents of Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, who put on a remarkable display from beyond the arc. While defense took a backseat, the game set new records for scoring and 3
