REACH FOR THE STARS
Giannis takes to the sky, but Durant takes MVP in comeback LeBron win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LeBron James’ slumping Lakers are below .500 and out of playoff position.
But his star-studded, handpicked Team LeBron squad led by Kevin Durant showed resilience at Sunday’s All-Star Game, rallying from a 20-point first-half deficit to defeat Team Giannis, 178-164, at Spectrum Center.
If only James could take some of these guys back to Los Angeles.
Kevin Durant won All-Star Game MVP honors, scoring 31 points on 6of-9 from 3-point range for Team LeBron in his 10th All-Star appearance. Maybe next February, the free-agent Durant could be at the All-Star Game representing the Knicks.
Durant was 3-of-3 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter to keep Team LeBron comfortably ahead late.
“We definitely talked about it at halftime,’’ Durant said. “We gave up [95 points in the first half ]. Coach [Mike] Malone said the record is 194 and we don’t won’t to get that put on us. Guys just buckled down and wanted to win after a while.’’
There were no Knicks or former Knicks in the contest. Nets guard D’Angelo Russell, who played just 12 minutes for Team Giannis, finished with six points and three assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looked as if he’d be going back to Milwaukee with MVP honors, but he — and his team — slowed down in the second half with James helping guard him down the stretch. He still finished with 38 points and 11 rebounds.
“I had my name on that MVP until the third quarter and they got hot and took it away from me,’’ Antetokounmpo said. Durant thought so, too. “He’s got potential through the roof,’’ Durant said. “It’s scary to see how far he can keep going. He’s still getting better. How old is he, 23? To be that young [he turned 24 in December] and already at the top of the class as one of the elites, it’s a joy to watch his progression.’’
James collected 19 points, though he was on the bench when his club made a key 19-2 thirdquarter run that turned the game around. Now he’s all in on getting the Lakers into the playoffs — which will be the most compelling storyline of the season’s unofficial second half. “Looking forward to seeing what we can do to get back in this playoff race,’’ James said. “That’s my only mindset. That’s the only thing in my mental space for these next two months.’’ The game set an All-Star record for 3-pointers made with 62. The teams combined for 177 points in the first half. Antetokounmpo is usually unguardable and Team LeBron refused to guard the 6-foot-11 athletic specimen in the first half. Antetokounmpo dunked his way to 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting in the first seven minutes and his team opened up an early lead that it extended to 53-37 after one and 95-82 at intermission.
In the most circus-like of Antetokounmpo’s points, Carolina hometown hero Stephen Curry bounced a pass that sailed sky-high above the rim and the Bucks’ MVP candidate slammed it home as it came down, grabbing it at the top of the box. The Team Giannis bench erupted.
“I bounced it really high and a lot of time in-between when it hit the ground to him dunking it,’’ Curry said. “The timing was unreal. I’m not sure anyone on the floor could have finished that one.’’
Durant got busy early in scoring 10 first-quarter points on 4-of-5 shooting but also got angry at Sixers center Joel Embiid.
But Durant had the last laugh and even appreciated his foefor-the-night Curry sinking a fall-away 3-pointer over Golden State’s Klay Thompson, who fouled him on the shot. Afterward, the Splash Brothers stared each other down.
“It was so fun to see,’’ Durant said. “Those guys are always joking around and seeing who can make the most shots. It was good to see Steph knock that shot down over Klay because is always talking trash to him. Their chemistry is second to none.’’
The question will be whether Durant is willing to leave it.