Jayson Tatum units All-Star Recreation scoring file, wins MVP, as Workforce Giannis tops Workforce LeBron 184-175

Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum scored 55 factors as Workforce Giannis beat Workforce LeBron 184-175 within the 2023 NBA All-Star Recreation in Utah.

Tatum walked away with the Kobe Bryant MVP award after capturing 22-of-31, together with a 10-of-18 capturing line from three-point vary.

Fellow Workforce Giannis recruit Donovan Mitchell scored 40 factors whereas capturing 15-of-25, together with going 8-of-17 from past the arc.

The sport was nothing greater than relentless scoring, with each groups averaging over 40 factors per quarter.

However the sport’s lack of protection was criticized by each social media and gamers after the competitors, with Celtics guard Jaylen Brown quipping, “That’s not basketball.”

Workforce Giannis gained the 2023 NBA All-Star Recreation due to an incredible sport by Jayson Tatum

Opposing crew captain LeBron James left the sport within the second quarter after hitting his hand on the rim after a block.

“I caught my finger on the sting, however I’ll be high quality,” James stated after the sport, including that he sat out the remainder of the night time “for precautionary causes.”

Damian Lillard of the Portland Path Blazers hit the game-winning 3-pointer as Workforce Giannis surpassed the goal rating of 182. Lillard additionally hit eight 3-pointers and scored 26 factors.

The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown led Workforce LeBron with 35 factors and a game-high 14 rebounds. Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks had 32 factors and 15 assists and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers additionally scored 32 factors for Workforce LeBron.

Tatum cut up two free throws for level No. 53 to make it 177-162. He surpassed the 52 factors set by Anthony Davis in 2017.

Tatum made 22 of 31 pictures and likewise contributed 10 rebounds and 6 assists. His 10 3-pointers are second in All-Star historical past behind the 16 the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry made in final season’s sport.

James, who scored 13 factors in over 14 minutes whereas serving as Workforce LeBron captain, shares the file for All-Star choices of 19 with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He fell to 5-1 as an All-Star captain.

Antetokounmpo scored the sport’s first factors with a dunk 15 seconds into the competition, however then went out for the night time.

Tatum scored an NBA All-Star Recreation file 55 factors, successful the MVP award

LeBron James damage his hand within the second quarter and sat out for “precautionary causes”

In his absence, recruits Kyrie Irving (2) and Joel Embiid (21) every scored 32 factors this sport.

Workforce captain Giannis sprained his proper wrist in Milwaukee’s last common season sport earlier than halftime Thursday night time. He’s now 1-2 as captain.

Tatum (27 factors), Mitchell (14) and Lillard (14) mixed for 55 of Workforce Giannis’ 59 factors within the third quarter because the crew took a 158-141 lead.

Tatum was 10 of 14 from the sector within the quarter, together with 7 of 11 from 3-point vary.

One other spotlight of the third quarter was Lillard stopping simply wanting the half courtroom line and firing a jumper from lengthy vary to make it 142-125 with 4:10 remaining within the interval.

Celtics teammates Tatum (left) and Brown (proper) had one of many few defensive moments of the night time.

The Giannis crew led 99-92 at halftime with Tatum scoring 17 factors and Mitchell including 16. Irving was 18 on 8-for-9 capturing to steer the LeBron crew.

Each groups mixed for 168 second-half factors and 191 first-half factors, topping the plus/minus 324 line out of the water.

It was that drastic line distinction, a 35-point distinction, that fired up some followers and members of the media on Twitter.

One of many solely defensive moments of the night time got here when Brown and Tatum, the 2 dueling Celtics stars, hit an iso play that led to a save by Tatum.

“I believe it’s time to retire ‘Elam’s ending saved the All-Star Recreation,’ contemplating it was a 6-point sport and sport level and there wasn’t precisely a rise in protection,” the Loss Loss Author wrote. Knicks, Fred Katz.

“I get it, actually, however if you happen to love basketball, that is so exhausting to observe,” Sporting Tribune founder Arash Markazi wrote.

“The All-Star Video games are a glorified open gymnasium, however I don’t know if anybody tried within the fourth quarter it was a bit annoying,” Advanced Sports activities’ Kameron Hay wrote.