The 2021 NBA All-Star Game took place on Sunday night in Atlanta. The format this year was a bit different compared to the previous games. It was unique this season due to COVID-19 with all the events encompassing one day.
Prior to the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, a number of players clashed in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and MTN DEW 3-Point Contest. The Slam
Injuries/COVID-19 Protocol
- Kevin Durant was replaced by Domantas Sabonis
- Devin Booker was replaced by Mike Conley
- Ben Simmons- COVID-19 Protocol
- Joel Embiid- COVID-19 Protocol
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Winner: Domantas Sabonis (IND)- Sabonis defeated Nikola Vucevic. Sabonis was the runner-up last season and this is his first time winning the event. Sabonis is also the first Pacer to win the event.
2021 Mtn Dew 3-point Contest
Winner: Stephen Curry (GSW)- Drained the game-winning money ball to beat Mike Conley who set the bar at 27 points. Curry ended the night with 28, beating Conley 28-26. Curry went 5-5 on the moneyball rack and took home his second trophy in this event.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Winner: Anfernee Simons (POR)- There were fewer contestants compared to the previous Slam Dunk Contests; however, Simons won the dunk competition. He beat Obi Toppin 3-2 in scoring by the judges after the final round. He tried to kiss the rim and missed by a little bit.
NBA All-Star Game
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyrie Irving reached double-digits in points at the midway point of the first quarter. They were the early front-runners for the MVP Award. Stephen Curry had a game high couple three-pointers especially a turnaround and one near the half court.
Curry had a game high of 12 points with a couple of steals. Team LeBron took a small lead into the second quarter 40-39.
During the second quarter, each team played for an HBCU. Winning the quarter meant that the winner of the quarter who get the donation. Curry still couldn’t miss as he went 8-11 from the field. Including 6-8 from the behind the arc. Antekounmpo lead the way with a the game high 24 points.
Lillard’s dagger from half-court helped Team LeBron win the game having already won every single quarter. Doing that earned Team LeBron a total of $1.25 million for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Antetokounmpo and Curry are making the case for MVP. Giannis is perfect from the field, going 16-16 from the field along with five rebounds.
Damian Lillard is third on Team LeBron with 21 points. Irving has the only double-double in the contest with 21 points and 11 assists. Irving had a near triple-double. Bradley Beal lead Team Durant with 23 points.
Lillard’s 32 points, in 21 minutes, are the most-ever scored by a Portland Trail Blazer in All-Star Game history. He was one of six Team LeBron players in double figures.
Chris Paul may have only had 6 points but he was also able to pile up the assists with 16. Team Durant basically lost every quarter except for the last one. The final score was 170-150.
Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
