Damian Lillard sweeps All-Star MVP, 3-pt titles
INDIANAPOLIS – Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard came to Indianapolis with one purpose – to win.
On Sunday, the first-time AllStar starter headed home with a rare All-Star weekend sweep.
Lillard earned MVP honors by scoring 39 points, making 11 3-pointers, and finishing with six assists, three rebounds, and one steal, in the East’s record-breaking 211-186 win over the West one day after earning his second straight 3-point contest. He’s the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988 to earn two titles on back-to-back nights.
“I just know you’ve got to keep shooting the ball and I think in a game like this, it’s going to be pretty loose and you’re going to get your opportunities,” Lillard said. “I just told myself I’m going to be aggressive and I’m going to keep firing. I saw a couple go in and after that, it was just like I’m going after it.” He certainly did -- with flair, too. At times it seemed he couldn’t miss and nothing was out of his shooting range.
The eight-time All-Star’s first 3 came from the NBA logo. In the third quarter, he hit a pull-up 3 from half-court before capping the night with a second half-court 3 late in the game.
Lillard finished his first appearance with the East by going 14 of 26 from the field and 11 of 23 on 3s for a team that broke the All-Star Game records for total points and 3s with 42.
His performance was every bit as impressive to his Bucks teammate, two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, as it was to Kevin Durant, a two-time NBA champion and two-time All-Star MVP. /