The sport aired Sunday evening on TNT.
Stephen Curry received one other 3-point report. LeBron James received one other All-Star win.
Not a nasty evening in Ohio for the 2 All-Stars from Akron.
Curry turned boos to oohs and aahs with the best long-distance capturing efficiency in All-Star Recreation historical past, then James made a turnaround jumper that gave Staff LeBron a 163-160 victory over Staff Durant on Sunday evening.
Curry made 16 3-pointers and scored 50 factors, two off Anthony Davis’ report. He was clearly searching it, asking on the sideline throughout a scorching third quarter what number of factors it might take.
“It’s fairly particular, clearly being again in Ohio,” Curry mentioned, seconds after being handed the inaugural Kobe Bryant MVP Trophy. “The trophy may be very particular. Very humble, very blessed.”
On an evening each gamers have been among the many greats of the sport who have been honored throughout a halftime ceremony celebrating the NBA’s seventy fifth anniversary staff, Curry and James confirmed why they proceed to face out amongst right this moment’s greatest.
Curry missed his remaining 3-point try that may have allowed him to surpass Davis. However with James’ staff needing a basket to succeed in the goal rating of 163 factors, they couldn’t afford to maintain feeding Curry.
So James pulled up from deep on the proper aspect for the profitable bucket, making him 5-0 within the format the place the main vote-getters in every convention draft groups.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 factors, and James completed with 24 in his previous house. Joel Embiid led Staff Durant with 36 factors.
The All-Star Recreation’s return to Cleveland was anticipated to be James’ evening. He's the Cavaliers franchise’s biggest participant, having led them to their solely NBA championship in 2016.
As a substitute, he was upstaged by Curry, who was born in the identical Akron hospital.
Curry completed 16 of 27 past the arc — typically nicely, nicely behind it. He launched a number of from the All-Star 2022 emblem close to midcourt, working backward with out even ready to look at one go in.
He had been booed all weekend, smiling via the sounds throughout pregame introductions as Cleveland followers made clear they hadn’t forgiven him for serving to Golden State beat the Cavaliers 3 times within the NBA Finals from 2015-18.
However the followers have been having fun with his present an excessive amount of to maintain going as the sport went on, although the boos returned when he was offered the MVP award.
It was an exhilarating end to an All-Star Recreation performed once more earlier than a packed home after the 2021 recreation was contested in a principally empty State Farm Enviornment in Atlanta, moved there due to the coronavirus pandemic after it was initially scheduled for Indianapolis.
The pregame introductions wrapped up with a thunderous roar for James, who responded with certainly one of his personal. His house followers cheered once more when he did his signature pregame energy toss and he got here out aggressively with 9 factors to assist Staff LeBron win the primary quarter 47-45.
Then it grew to become the Curry present.
He made six 3s for 18 factors within the second quarter, although Staff Durant received the interval. He made seven extra 3s and scored 21 within the third, when the groups performed to a 45-all tie.
James defeated Curry after they have been captains in 2018, the primary 12 months after the NBA did away with the standard East in opposition to West format. Then James beat Antetokounmpo within the subsequent two years.
This time, he drafted each of the two-time NBA MVPs, together with Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP. His staff received for the second straight 12 months in opposition to the membership captained by Kevin Durant, who couldn’t play due to a sprained left knee ligament.
Chris Paul did play — briefly — regardless of a proper thumb harm that TNT reported would preserve him out not less than six weeks. Paul performed with a wrap protecting his thumb throughout his two-minute stint.