The 2022 NBA All-Star Game was the most exciting yet with the new Elam Ending format, as Team LeBron edged Team Durant, 163-160, with the captain himself hitting a fadeaway for the win.
LEBRON FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/HYsiV5EkhD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2022
James finished with 24 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but it was his longtime rival turned All-Star teammate that carried the team for much of the way. Stephen Curry stole the show with a 50-point outburst that included 16 three-pointers (on 27 attempts) as he caught fire early and somehow never cooled off in what is an all-time All-Star Game performance — he fell two points shy of Anthony Davis’ record of 52 points in 2017.
“HE DIFFERENT!’
STEPH (13 3PM) HAS SET A NEW 3-PT RECORD AT #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/Ygj2rNEpk3
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 21, 2022
STEPH IS UNREAL #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/646gFTLlUF
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 21, 2022
Can somebody tell me what the record is for the most points?”
Steph wants to know #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/m80uQAAOs5
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 21, 2022
THREE-POINTER NUMBER 16 FOR STEPH.#TeamDurant 143#TeamLeBron 147 #NBAAllStar Target Score: 163 pic.twitter.com/dFLYbqsRJ5
— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022
50 POINTS for #30.
Steph, #TeamLeBron up 151-150.
First to 163 wins #NBAAllStar on TNT & TBS. pic.twitter.com/ZHfD1gh1JQ
— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022
Curry, unsurprisingly, took home the Kobe Bryant MVP honors, but he wasn’t alone on Team LeBron in shining. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, while also playing some of the best defense of the night late, including an incredible block of his Bucks teammate Khris Middleton.
why giannis do khris like this? pic.twitter.com/gptEZOMMAg
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) February 21, 2022
Can’t tell why I enjoy more Giannis with this disrespectful breakup of the lob or that it ended in a reverse layup from Luka. pic.twitter.com/HfCY9aIXsA
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) February 21, 2022
On Team Durant, it was Joel Embiid who did the most to keep them in contact with 36 points (on 14-for-20 shooting) and 10 rebounds. Devin Booker had 20 points, while two first-timers, LaMelo Ball and Dejounte Murray, impressed in combining for 35 points.
a little and 1 action. pic.twitter.com/PuqP9g2Mbi
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 21, 2022
It was an incredible night, which included the NBA’s 75 Greatest Players being honored at halftime — with LeBron, Giannis, and Steph all getting to join the legends of the game on stage for that honor and it was fitting those three showed out in a big way. It was filled with some cool moments, few better than the embrace between LeBron and Michael Jordan after the ceremony.
Michael Jordan and LeBron James share a special moment at the #NBA75 Ceremony.
Greatness. pic.twitter.com/wrRYwtGYzy
— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022
Curry’s performance even managed to turn the crowd, which booed him loudly all weekend, earning an ovation when he accepted the MVP trophy.