What. A. Game!
Needing to rally in the fourth quarter, Team LeBron did just that in the 69th NBA All-Star game with a 157-155 victory over Team Giannis inside the United Center.
To bring back inspired play and to honor Kobe Bryant, the NBA All-Star moved to a different format. Heading into an untimed fourth quarter, Team Giannis had a 133 to 124 lead and a final target score of 157 was set (plus 24, a tribute to Kobe Bryant’s jersey number).
With players taking charges and players screaming about non-calls, the fourth quarter of the All-Star Game seemed like a playoff game. In the end, Team LeBron outscored Team Giannis 33-22 in the final quarter for the 157-155 victory.
#NBAAllStar Captains DUEL ?@KingJames 23 PTS, 6 AST@Giannis_An34 25 PTS, 11 REB pic.twitter.com/ch4trFx3Uf
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2020
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Kawhi Leonard, the game’s MVP and the first recipient of the trophy now named for Bryant, scored 30 points for Team LeBron, while James — his team’s captain — and Chris Paul each scored 23, and Davis finished with 20.
“This one’s for him,” Leonard said, speaking in memory of Bryant.
The forward had an impressive stat line as he finished with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals. Most impressively, is that Leonard finished with eight 3-pointers and also became just the second player in league history — joining Michael Jordan — to win Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Finals MVP and All-Star Game MVP.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for his team, as he tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, three blocks and one three-pointer. Kemba Walker scored 23 points, Joel Embiid 22 with 10 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert added 21 and 11 in his All-Star Game debut.
Up Next
The 70th NBA All-Star Game is Feb. 14, 2021 in Indianapolis. That’ll be followed by the 2022 game in Cleveland and the 2023 game in Salt Lake City.
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