Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The All-Star break hit the NBA over this past week and the events were held in Indianapolis for the first time since 1985. The Eastern Conference All-Stars set an NBA record 211 points as they topped the Western Conference who scored 186 points for a total of 397 points.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton nearly took home MVP honors with 32 points and 10 three pointers made. He was upstaged by his starting backcourt mate in the Eastern Conference, Damian Lillard hit 11 threes on the night and finished with 39 points. Lillard who is in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks, made his first appearance with the Eastern Conference All-Stars after making his first seven All-Star trips as a member of the Western Conference. This was also Lillard’s first time starting in the game.
He also won the three-point shootout on Saturday night and became the first player to win an event and win All-Star Game MVP honors since Michael Jordan in 1988. “Anytime you’re mentioned in the same category as Mike it’s an honor, it’s a major accomplishment even if it’s All-Star weekend,” Lillard said after the weekend. “I’m a vet in the game at this point, why not go and try to get an MVP? Since I’ve been here enough.”
In a first-time event, Steph Curry beat WNBA guard Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty in a head-to-head three-point shootout. The event was setup after Ionescu set a record in the WNBA three-point shootout last summer, and then challenged Curry to shootout immediately after. G-Leaguer Matt McClung won the dunk contest for the second year in a row and the only All-Star from the New York teams, Jalen Brunson of the Knicks scored 12 points in the game. Both the Knicks and Nets resume play on Thursday night.
