Tatum rocks the All-Star Game Showcase

SALT LAKE CITY — Jayson Tatum took over the NBA All-Star Game and set the record for most points scored in the annual showcase at 55 as Team Giannis defeated Team LeBron 184-175 Sunday night at Vivint Arena. The final target score was 182, adding 24 points to the leading team’s score after three quarters.

Tatum added 10 rebounds and six assists on his way to becoming MVP. Donovan Mitchell, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Utah before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason, added 40 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals for Team Giannis.

Jaylen Brown led Team LeBron with 35 points and 14 rebounds, and Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving had 32 points each. Neither team captain finished the game. That’s how the night went.

First Quarter: Team LeBron 46, Team Giannis 46

Giannis Antetokounmpo was everywhere during the All-Star weekend, but his shortest appearance was in the actual All-Star game. The team captain scored the first bucket of the game, pulled a foul and left the game after 20 seconds. He is nursing a sprained right wrist.

LeBron James and Tatum both praised the ball for dunks from the glass, while Mitchell threw a lob to Lauri Markkanen – jazz past and future – to highlight the first quarter.

The first quarter ended in a tie at 46, meaning the teams’ chosen charities each received $50,000 (Team LeBron: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah; Team Giannis: Raise the Future). Tatum led Team Giannis with 13 points in the quarter while Irving led Team LeBron with 11 points.

Second Quarter: Team Giannis 53, Team LeBron 46

Defense? Not in the All Star Game. Highlight dunks, sloppy miscues and general malaise? Yes, that summed up the first half in Utah. Here, check out this Ja Morant 360 dunk.

The arena atmosphere is dead. Not much to cheer about anyway, but the arena’s eerie silence definitely didn’t help this lackluster game.

Team Giannis won the second quarter 53-46 and earned $100,000 for their charity.

Halftime Highlights

During halftime, it was announced that James would miss the second half with a hand injury after slamming his hand on the rim. That came immediately after the NBA announced that James had been voted the second-half fan favorite for an isocam. It was quickly switched to Luka Doncic.

James was then honored for becoming the all-time leading scorer in a special moment with league Nos. 2 and 3 goalscorers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s previous mark earlier this month.

The top three NBA scorers of all time, from left, Karl Malone (No. 3), LeBron James (No. 1) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 2) are seen at halftime in the NBA All-Star Game on February 19, 2023 in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Third Quarter: Team Giannis 59, Team LeBron 49

Tatum took over the third quarter and during that period scored an All-Star record 27 points to lead Team Giannis to a third-quarter win and an additional $100,000 for his charity.

But Lillard put on a show, nonchalantly pulling himself up from midfield and defending his 3-point competitive title a little early.

Lillard, who attended college at nearby Weber State, was a fan favorite all weekend, eventually winning the Saturday night contest, actually designed for him, while wearing a custom Weber State jersey with “DOLLA” written on the back .

Fourth Quarter: Team LeBron 34, Team Giannis 26

Tatum was the story of the quarter and the night, setting the All-Star game scoring record with 55 points. He received the Kobe Bryant MVP trophy.

Antetokounmpo basked in his maiden All-Star Game win with an iconic Giannis moment.

Only one player didn’t score in the All-Star Game: Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox.

All-Star Draft Highlights

The pre-game draft was a hit, with Antetokounmpo bringing just the right amount of ease trying to pick Morant, who was picked into the game as a starter, during the reserve portion of the draft. When it came time to choose appetizers, you knew Antetokounmpo wouldn’t let James take Morant.

James had his own antics during the draft, selecting “Hookah” Doncic and possible manipulation pick Irving. Before James could make his final pick, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic got up and walked behind him, effectively making James’ pick.

Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic jokes with Los Angeles Lakers captain LeBron James after he was selected in the NBA All-Star Game Draft on February 19, 2023 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. (AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Although the reserves were selected before the starters, the final choice was local player Markkanen.