MVP Tatum drives to record 55
Giannis’ team tops LeBron’s as captains deal with injuries
SALT LAKE CITY — Jayson Tatum put on a record-setting show and made Giannis Antetokounmpo look like a genius.
Tatum scored an All-Star Game-record 55 points on his way to winning MVP honors, and Team Giannis ended LeBron James’ hold on All-Star captain supremacy by beating Team LeBron 184-175 in the NBA’s annual showcase exhibition Sunday night.
Tatum had 27 points in the third quarter, an All-Star Game record for any period. He was the first pick by Antetokounmpo in the starters’ portion of the All-Star draft, and that pick proved to be the right one.
The MVP award Tatum was given is named for Kobe Bryant, one of his heroes.
“It means the world,” Tatum said. “You think of all the legends and great players that have played this game, and in all honesty, records are made to be broken.”
Tatum broke Anthony Davis’ All-Star record of 52 points. He was 22 of 31 from the floor and had 10 rebounds and six assists.
It was James’ first loss in six times as captain. Antetokounmpo improved to 1-2 in his All-Star captaincies and became the first captain to hoist a new trophy presented to the winners
of the All-Star Game.
“Winner, winner, chicken dinner,” Antetokounmpo said.
Later, with a more serious tone, Antetokounmpo said he had a reason for choosing Tatum.
“I knew he would take it serious. It was a no-brainer,” he said.
Donovan Mitchell added 40 for Team Giannis, which got 26 points from Damian Lillard — including the game-winner to push his team past the target score in the Elam Ending format.
Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and had 14 rebounds for Team LeBron.
Brown and Tatum — Boston teammates — were reveling in a back-and-forth duel in the second half.
“It was a normal day for us,” Tatum said. “Just millions of people watching.”
The league had a ceremony before the second half to pay tribute to the three leading scorers in NBA history: No. 3 Karl Malone, No. 2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James, who passed Abdul-Jabbar earlier this month.
James didn’t return to the game, his night ending with a right hand contusion. “Precautionary reasons,” James said.
James played a half. The game’s other captain didn’t play a half-minute.
Antetokoumpo drafted his team before the game, went through warmups and started the game as planned. But his right wrist was wrapped. He got an uncontested dunk to open the game, then took a foul and headed to the bench.
“Whatever I have, I’m going to give,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s who I am.”