The 2023 NBA All-Star Game kicked off Sunday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City and showcased the best basketball it had to offer for a night of exciting games.
And the best of the best was one Jayson Tatum, who scored 55 points on 10 3s to the tune of an ASG record.
Here are the top moments from the crown jewel of the All-Star weekend.
FINALS: Team Giannis 184, Team LeBron 175
Giannis scores first and then leaves
Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure he got into the game immediately by dunking the ball on the game’s first possession. He committed a deliberate foul shortly thereafter to leave the game due to his wrist injury.
The joker finds the king
Nikola Jokić found LeBron cutting James to the brim and alley-ooping him early.
LeBron for himself!
James threw himself an alley-oop from backboard before hitting a thunderous slam.
yes jamming
Ja Morant showed off his dunking ability at the fast break and showed what he could do if he ever entered the slam dunk contest.
Back-to-back glass
James and Jayson Tatum traded self-alley-oops in the first quarter to kickstart some early MVP buzz.
lady from the deep!
Damian Lillard checked into play and immediately dumped a deep 3-pointer.
Luke is floating!
Luka Dončić got up for the dunk while putting the mic on!
On a string
Kyrie Irving put on some English on that nasty finger roll late in the second quarter and slid to the trophy for perhaps the best lay-in of the game.
LeBron honored at halftime before leaving the game
James injured his hand in the first half and missed the rest of the game. But the NBA recognized him at halftime as the new all-time leading scorer.
Tatum from downtown!
The Celtics star hit shots everywhere in the third quarter and scored 17 points in the opening minutes of the second half as he clinched for the game’s MVP.
Tatum takes over
Tatum dropped a 3-pointer over Joel Embiid to pad his stats in the third quarter.
Shoot Spida
Donovan Mitchell felt it while playing in the arena he used to call home. He scored 14 points early in the third quarter.
Beyond the logo Lillard
It was Damian Lillard’s turn to make a deep 3-pointer that dumped one just behind the midfield strip.
1v1 Celtics match
Tatum and Jaylen Brown urged everyone else to step aside for the final minute of the third quarter, with the two Celtics players going 1-on-1 for a handful of possession.
Both players hit a 3-pointer over each other, with Brown calling Tatum undersized and Tatum pocketing a 3-pointer to give him 27 points in the quarter, an All-Star Game record.
The record breaker!
Tatum continued his hot tear in the fourth, scorching the nets shot after shot and scoring an All-Star record 55 points.
ladies time!
Leave it to the 3-point champion to thwart the game.
After Team Giannis missed some deep shots trying to end the game with a long ball, Damian Lillard deflated a classic side-step 3 to seal it for Team Giannis and break Team LeBron’s five-game unbeaten streak .
FOREPLAY
The design
Just before the game started, the league held its All-Star Draft, with captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo picking their respective teams. Both players chose from the reserve pool first before moving to the starter pool.
The reserve pool included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Domantas Sabonis, Paul George, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Jaylen Brown, Bam Adebayo, Julius Randle, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam .
The starting pool consisted of Ja Morant, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Lauri Markkanen, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum.
TEAM LeBron
Choice 2: Anthony Edwards
Choice 4: Jaylen Brown
Choice 6: PaulGeorge
Dial 8: Tyrese Haliburton
Choose 10: Julius Randle
Dial 12: De’Aaron Fox
Dial 14: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Dial 15: Joel Embiid (Starter)
Dial 17: Kyrie Irving (starter)
Dial 19: Luka Doncic (starter)
Choice 21: Nikola Jokic (Starter)
TEAM GIANNIS
Choice 1: Damien Lillard
Choice 3: Jrue holiday
Choice 5: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Choice 7: DeMar Derozan
Choose 9: Pascal Siakam
Choice 11: Bam Adebayo
Choice 13: Domantas Sabonis
Dial 16: Jayson Tatum (starter)
Dial 18: Yes Morant (Starter)
Choose 20: Donovan Mitchell (Starter)
Dial 22: Lauri Markkanen (Starter)
Stay tuned for more updates!
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