Damian Lillard Scores 32 Off The Bench, Hits Game-Ending Three for Team LeBron
The Portland Trail Blazers were well-represented on All-Star Sunday, but Damian Lillard saved the best for last.
Lillard and Stephen Curry traded ridiculous deep shots for Team LeBron all night.
💦 STEPH: 8-16 from 3 after winning #MtnDew3PT earlier in the night.
⌚️ DAME: 8-16 from 3, #NBAAllStar game-winning shot from halfcourt.
Another shooting DISPLAY from @StephenCurry30 and @Dame_Lillard! pic.twitter.com/soOl7FCiVs
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
241 feet worth of triples at #NBAAllStar for @dame_lillard pic.twitter.com/Or7Z0UNEcc
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 8, 2021
Despite the fireworks show, Giannis Antetokounmpo won All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award. Now, he did go 16/16 from the floor, including 3/3 from three, so I guess I get it.
Lillard finished with 32 points, which is both a career-high for him in the ASG and a record for a Trail Blazers player in the game.
Part of Dame’s 32 was the shot that ended the game.
🚨⌚️ LOGO LILLARD CALLS GAME FROM HALFCOURT!
Dame’s 8TH three of the #NBAAllStar Game WINS it for #TeamLeBron! pic.twitter.com/9ZdsurzZBQ
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
Steph started waving goodbye before Dame even pulled up for the win 😳#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/HhgmKhdCak
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 8, 2021
Even Paul George admitted that his criticism of Lillard a few years ago was misguided. Respect, PG.
I asked Paul George about the range in today’s NBA.
PG: “Well I guess i was criticized for the right reason for calling Dame’s shot in the playoffs a bad shot. I mean I see this guy’s range is crazy.”
Me: “So is that no longer a bad shot?”
PG: “It’s a great shot. 2 thumbs up.” pic.twitter.com/fFZhlNREvc
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 8, 2021
Team LeBron won all four quarters, which translated to $1.25 million for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Team Durant was still given $500,000 for the United Negro College Fund.
#TeamLeBron WINS the 2021 #NBAAllStar Game! They earn a total of $1.25 million for TMCF, while #TeamDurant earns $500,000 for UNCF.
Giannis: 2021 NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award winner (35 PTS, 16-16 shooting) #KiaAllStarMVP pic.twitter.com/aAK8o21OPw
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
LeBron James is now 4-0 as an All-Star captain since the NBA changed the format for how the All-Star game teams are selected.
