INDIANAPOLIS — Before the NBA All-Star Game even started, Lakers star LeBron James mentioned during his pregame media availability that he’d play limited minutes in the league’s premier exhibition – especially in light of the left ankle injury he’s nursing.
This came to fruition, with James only playing in the first half of the Western Conference’s 211-186 loss to the Eastern Conference Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
James finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists in 14 first-half minutes – mostly getting his points in transition in an All-Star Game that once again lacked defensive intensity from the opening tip.
The biggest highlight from James came when Clippers forward Paul George bounce passed an alley-oop to James in the second quarter – a familiar play for Lakers fans in recent months, as it was reminiscent of the bounce pass alley-oops that D’Angelo Russell has thrown to James a couple of times.
Fellow Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis (six points, nine assists, eight rebounds in 22 minutes ) only played seven first-half minutes. By the time he subbed in late in the third quarter, the Eastern Conference was up by 21 and on its way in a blowout win over the West in the highest-scoring NBA All-Star Game in history.
George (13 points) and Kawhi Leonard (five points), representing the Clippers, had limited roles, with both playing fewer than 11 minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard led the East with 39 points on 11 3-pointers go to with six assists, being named the All-Star Game MVP one night after winning his second consecutive 3-point contest.
Lillard was one of three East players who scored at least 30 points, along with Boston Celtics forward Jalen Brown (36 points, eight rebounds) and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (32 points on 10 3s to go with seven rebounds and six assists).
Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns led the West with 50 points – just the fourth time a player has…
Read the full article here
