Team LeBron wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150

ATLANTA – In the midst of a pandemic, this was sure to be an NBA All-Star game like no other.

The stands were mostly empty. The noise of the crowd was widely diffused. There were no top notch celebrities sitting in court. Two players had to sit down after having their hair cut.

But in the end, it had a familiar feeling.

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The LeBron team won again.

Shooting down shots from all over the pitch, LeBron James’ center team closed the first half with a dominant run to stage a 170-150 battle against Team Durant in the 70th mid-season showcase. league Sunday night.

The top vote-takers in each conference have chosen the teams over the past four years, a duty that James has earned each season.

He is now 4-0, having beaten Stephen Curry’s side in 2018 and teams selected by reigning two-time Milwaukee MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo the previous two years.

This time, James drafted his two former opponents and blew Kevin Durant’s side away.

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“I think he has a future as a general manager,” said Damian Lillard, another of James’ inspired selections. “He’s always right.”

Antetokounmpo was the game’s MVP after shooting 16 of 16 for 35 points, even making his three attempts beyond the 3-point strip. It was the most clear hoops in All-Star Game history.

“I’m just having fun,” the Greek star said. “Sometimes when you’re having fun and not thinking about the outcome, you just let your instincts take over.”

Curry had 28 points, while Lillard had 32.

James spent most of the night admiring his writing skills from the bench. He played less than 13 minutes, scored just four points and did not return to the field in the second half.

Instead, he munched on a snack on the bench.

“I know he was managing his minutes tonight,” Curry said. “We had a blast representing him as captain. It was a night to remember for sure.”

It was certainly for Curry, who had won the competition by 3 points before and then went 8 of 16 beyond the arc in the game.

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Lillard equaled him, also scoring 8 of 16 at 3 points.

This all-star game was certainly different from the previous 69.

Determined to put on a huge show for the league’s television income and global brand, the NBA staged the game in a nearly empty downtown arena, a made-for-television extravaganza that was symbolic of the coronavirus era.

Despite many security protocols in place, two players didn’t even realize it. Philadelphia stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have been kicked out because they had their hair cut from a barber who tested positive for COVID-19.

The only good thing for Durant: He didn’t have to participate in that bombardment, sitting out of the game with a diseased hamstring.

Bradley Beal led Durant with 26 points.

On an evening highlighting historically black colleges and universities, Team LeBron swept through the first three quarters and hit the final target score, earning a total of $ 750,000 for their charity, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund .

The game got out of hand at the end of the second quarter.

With limited defense, Team LeBron took turns relegating to alley-oop passes. Chris Paul delivered back-to-back lobs that Lillard and Curry hit. Then it was Paul who received a recovery pass from Curry.

After showing he could handle shots from up close, Team LeBron headed outside in the dying seconds of the half.

Lillard shot up for a 3 point from the half court line. Not to be outdone, Curry knocked one over in virtually the same spot.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Lillard. “Steph and I shoot a lot of 3s. We shoot deep 3s. It was 3, 3, 3, 3, 3.”

Amid the happy moments, the atmosphere at State Farm Arena was downright odd compared to a normal All-Star Game.

Instead of a packed house, with top-notch celebrities crammed into top-notch seats, this game was attended by a handful of hand-picked guests. They had plenty of room to spread out in a 17,000-seat hall that was essentially turned into a giant TV studio, with spectators socially removed from the court.

Imposing video screens have been installed behind the benches. Vegas-style lights flashed around the arena. The recorded crowd noise was heard over the audio system. Entertainment was provided by host Atlanta Hawks, who had no in-game players but was represented by his cheerleaders, drums, and DJ.

To allay fears that one of its biggest events could become a super-spreader for a virus that has killed more than half a million Americans, the NBA has cut back its usual weekend ritual of extravagant parties, blocked streets and people watching.

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This all-star game was a one-night-only event, with a pair of skill competitions held shortly before the game and the tight Dunk contest in the halftime break. The players flew on Saturday afternoon and were largely confined to a nearby hotel except for their time on the pitch.

“This is when everyone in basketball from all over the world comes to a city,” James said before the game. “We’re able to sit down and say, ‘Wow, this is the game that we’ve built. “It’s a beautiful weekend for all walks of life, on the ground and on the ground.

“But I’m sitting here in my hotel room, secluded. My family isn’t here. I’m alone. It’s just different, to say the least, compared to previous years. “