On a night that brought the stars to Salt Lake City, it was Team Giannis that stole the show.
In what amounted to a glorified scrimmage between the best basketball players in the world for the first three quarters, the final quarter delivered all the action that those at Vivint Arena came to see.
With the final score set at 182, Team Giannis needed just 24 points to pick up the win — the first for Antetokounmpo in three tries since he became captain.
However, Team LeBron didn’t go down without a fight, as a late 10-3 run made it a nine-point game. They later cut it to six, 181-175, following a Jaylen Brown three — but Damian Lillard, as he’d done all night, drilled a walk-off 30-footer for the 184-175 win.
Speaking with reporters on Saturday night, Lauri Markkanen was asked whether he cared if he was the first or last player chosen in the NBA All-Star draft on Sunday night.
Shocker, the big man from Finland didn’t — he was just happy to be representing the Jazz as a first-time All-Star. But when the lights shined brightest, Markkanen proved precisely why he deserved to be on the biggest stage.
Despite being the final starter chosen for Team Giannis, Markkanen got off to a quick start when he threw down a halfcourt alley-top from former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell — much to the delight of Vivint Arena. After another alley-oop and a deep three, Markkanen had a quick seven points and was delivering on the show he promised to put on.
Overall, he finished with 13 points and seven rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting.
“Pretty surreal,” Markkanen said about his first All-Star game. “I was excited to get out there the whole weekend. I mean, I got to participate in the 3-Point Contest, but this was what we were waiting for. … Just a great experience to be a part of. I can’t wait to be here again.”
While Markkanen was clearly the star for Jazz Nation on Sunday night, Mitchell got nearly as many cheers. After spending the first five years of his career in Utah, including being named a three-time All-Star, Mitchell wowed the crowd with a stunning performance throughout the night.
Taking his game to another level this season with Cleveland, Mitchell reminded Utah fans why he was so beloved with an array of offensive moves that continually wowed the crowd.
He battled with Jayson Tatum for MVP honors, barely falling short despite finishing with 40 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.
“I grew up here as a player, as a person, as a man,” Mitchell said postgame. “Then to be back here as a starter, to come back here for All-Star, it makes sense.”
Tatum took home MVP honors after dropping an All-Star game record 55 points, shooting 22-of-31 from the floor and 10-for-18 from deep. He added 10 rebounds and six assists.
Battling Mitchell and Tatum for Team LeBron were Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving — both of whom showed why they’re considered among the elite scorers in the game.
Irving finished with 32 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds, while Embiid added 32 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
The first quarter saw both teams feeling one another out, with runaway dunks, wide-open threes, and very little defense. But with the score close late in the first, the intensity picked up as each team wanted to win the $100,000 for their respective charity.
Pascal Siakim’s bucket gave Team Giannis a three-point lead with two minutes to go, but back-to-back buckets by Brown gave Team LeBron the one-point lead. Trailing by three late, Team Giannis responded with a 5-0 run as Jrue Holiday drilled a three to give them the lead with 27 seconds remaining — but Brown responded with a bucket on the next possession.
The score was tied at 46 after one — and each charity took home $50,000.
The second quarter remained close throughout, with each team putting together a few highlights that brought the crowd to its feet multiple times. But when it mattered most, Team Giannis got the job done.
A Kyrie Irving three gave Team LeBron a two-point lead with 1:33 to play in the half — but Mitchell and Lillard took over for Team Giannis. Mitchell scored five quick points to give them the lead, but Irving answered again as Team LeBrown regained the one-point advantage.
Fresh off his Three-Point Contest win on Saturday night, Lillard caught fire with back-to-back deep balls before a Tatum layup completed the scoring.
Team Giannis led 99-92 at the break.
The third quarter belonged to Team Giannis — mainly, the three-headed monster of Mitchell, Tatum, and Lillard.
Mitchell and Tatum combined to dominate the third, scoring the first 28 points for Team Giannis to start the third. While Lillard would make another three, Mitchell and Tatum stayed hot by knocking down deep threes again. Tatum finished with 27, while Mitchell and Lillard added 14 points each, as they combined to score 56 of the team’s 59 points in the quarter.
Team Giannis led 158-141 heading to the fourth.
Lillard led all bench scorers with 26 points on 8-of-20 from deep, while Siakim chipped in 12 points for Team Giannis.
LeBron James finished with 13 points at the half but didn’t return to the game following a hand injury — which isn’t considered serious. Tyrese Halliburton added 18 points, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle chipped in 12 and 11, respectively.