Image via NBA
At the NBA’s annual showcase, Team Giannis defeated Team LeBron 184-175 thanks to Jayson Tatum’s All-Star Game-high 55 points.
Tatum, a forward for the Boston Celtics, was awarded MVP after surpassing Anthony Davis’s previous mark of 52 points from 2017.
LeBron James, the captain of the opposing team, was injured in his right little finger and was forced to sit out the second half.
“It means the world,” Tatum, now a four-time All-Star, said of his record.
“You think of all the legends and great players that have played this game.
“In all honesty, records are made to be broken. I’ll hold it as long as I can but I’m certain somebody will come along in a couple years and try to break it.”
With 35 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, Jaylen Brown of the Celtics led Team LeBron while James left the game with 13 points after hitting his finger against the hoop while attempting to block a jumper.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James both have 19 All-Star selections, but James lost his first of six All-Star games as captain on Sunday in Salt Lake City.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the night’s first point scorer and game’s captain, sprained his right wrist in the Milwaukee Bucks’ final regular-season game. He missed the remainder of the game.
A target score for victory of 182 was set with Team Giannis leading 158-141 at the end of the third quarter. This was 24 points higher than the winning side’s total at that point and represented Kobe Bryant’s shirt number during the most of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The game-winning three-pointer was made by Portland Trail Blazers player Damian Lillard to seal the victory.