The All Star Game show: Tatum’s record, rain of triples and dunks, and LeBron James’ first loss

The Boston Celtics forward was recognized with his first game MVP award by surpassing Anthony Davis’ 52 points in 2017, which was the most of the 72 All-Star editions so far.

All Star Game 2023: everything left by the great basketball show

“Honestly, records are made to be broken. So I’ll keep it as long as I can, but I’m sure someone will come along in a couple of years to try to break it,” Tatum said after picking up the MVP award, which now bears the name of the late Kobe Bryant.

“Everybody knows how much (Kobe) meant to me. My favorite player and my idol. It’s an honor to take him home,” said the star of the reigning NBA runners-up on the court at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. (Utah).

Tatum achieved his feat with 22 shots from 31 attempts, including 10 three-pointers, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, in Team Giannis’ 184-175 victory against LeBron James.

‘King James’, who also broke the record for appearances in the event with 19, scored 13 points but did not play the second half after hitting a hand against the rim in a block attempt.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t think it’s much to worry about,” he said afterwards.

The 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers superstar had led his teams to victory every year since the NBA scrapped the conference format in 2018.

The novelty introduced this year was that the captains distributed the players in a fun draw carried out on the pitch just minutes before the game, which had curious moments such as seeing LeBron choose his former teammate Kyrie Irving or Antetokounmpo select Ja Morant twice .

The Greek had a testimonial participation in the game due to the wrist injury he suffered on Thursday with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo jumped in as the starter and, after scoring the first basket of the game with a soft dunk, promptly made a personal foul to retire to the bench with just 20 seconds to play.

“It’s hard, I love competing. I couldn’t fully participate, but I wanted to go out even for 10 seconds, sweat a little with the shirt, because I want to be part of this,” said the Greek, who had lost as captain twice (2019 and 2020) against Team LeBron.

James’ injury occurred in a game that, as usual in recent years, completely lacked defensive intensity, which facilitated ‘flights’ from Tatum and Morant and other spectacular actions such as no-look assists from Nikola Jokic.

James was honored at halftime by the NBA for becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring player this month.

James was accompanied by the other two members of the all-time scoring podium: Abdul-Jabbar himself and Karl Malone, legend of the local Utah Jazz.

After the break, Jayson Tatum took over the night racking up 27 points in the third quarter alone, the most in a single period in this event.

The forward continued to hoard the ball and took advantage of the defensive passivity to keep scoring until he achieved the record from the free throw line.

At his side other figures were also burning like Donovan Mitchell, who reached 40 points, or Damian Lillard, who finished with 26 the day after winning his first triple contest.

The Blazers leader signed 8 triples on Sunday and, trying on the suit of the absent Stephen Curry, nailed one of them from his own court.

For Team LeBron, Jaylen Brown, Tatum’s partner on the Celtics, had 35 points and Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving each had 32.

Team Giannis entered the fourth quarter with a 158-141 lead, leaving them within 24 points – an All-Star tribute to Kobe Bryant – of the number needed to win the game.

Tatum hit a free throw to reach 53 points and beat Davis’ record and then added a layup that put his team just one point away from victory (181-170).

The victory came with a three-pointer from Lillard, who celebrated with the public by pointing to his wrist as he always does when scoring the decisive baskets.