The NBA returned to a traditional format to encourage a more competitive game. Instead, fans were treated to a 211-186 East rout in a game decided by the fourth quarter.
Law Murray, David Aldridge and more
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INDIANAPOLIS — Right now, the janitorial staff at the NBA office in New York is wheeling the dry-erase board out of the closet and giving it a once over with a wet rag. It's time to draw up yet another new idea to save the league’s All-Star Game.
On Sunday night in Indianapolis, the 73rd edition of the NBA’s annual February classic reverted back to the traditional format of East versus West and four, 12-minute quarters. The changes, switching back from years of team captains picking sides, and an untimed, targeted scoring system in the fourth quarter to determine the winner – didn't work.
The game, won by the East, 211-186, was still a listless walk-through of less than no defense and mindless chucking of 3s from as far away as behind the half-court line.
Read more here.
Steph Curry edged Sabrina Ionescu in 3-point shootout
INDIANAPOLIS — Stephen Curry, the greatest 3-point shooter in history, edged WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu in a first-of-its-kind shootout on All-Star Saturday Night.
Curry, the Golden State Warriors superstar who’s made more 3s than anyone, and has two NBA 3-point contest championships to his name, set a score of 29 to Ionescu’s 26 in the single-round shooting contest that easily upstaged the league’s regular 3-point contest. Ionescu, shooting a WNBA-size ball from the NBA 3-point line, hit her first seven shots, causing a stir among the Indianapolis crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Curry won a 3-point championship belt that looks like a boxing or pro wrestling title belt, with goats on each side of the buckle.
Click here to read more on the pair's contest.
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Damian Lillard defended his 3-point contest crown
In the 3-point contest Saturday night, Damian Lillard hit the last moneyball on his last rack to edge Trae Young for his second-consecutive win in the event.
Lillard is the first back-to-back 3-point champion since Jason Kapono in 2007 and 2008, and joined Kapono, Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price, Jeff Hornacek and Peja Stojakovic as winners of the 3-point contest in consecutive years.
Click here to read more.
Mac McClung went back to back
Mac McClung, the G League journeyman who shocked the world with his dunk contest win in Salt Lake City last February, did it again in Indianapolis, beating Jaylen Brown by jumping over 7-foot-1 Shaquille O’Neal in the final round for a perfect 50 from the judges on Saturday night.
McClung, who now plays for the Orlando Magic’s G League affiliate, is the first back-to-back dunk winner since Zach LaVine in 2015 and 2016. McClung, LaVine, Nate Robinson, Jason Richardson, and Michael Jordan are the only players to win consecutive dunk contests.
Click here to read more on Saturday night's contests.
The moment Mac McClung won the Dunk Contest. Poor Shaq
Rough All-Star day for the refs
I think it's safe to say this is collectively the most we've talked about refs/judges on All-Star Saturday. Dame called them out after winning the 3-point shootout! Adam Silver must be thrilled.
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Mac McClung joins Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson and Zach LaVine as repeat Slam Dunk contest champions.
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If I may, I’m not doubting it’s hard to jump over these humans and pull off the dunks but every dunk can’t be that and it’s weird when we can see them push off the human prop. I’d rather them pick someone to dunk on as a shot blocker
No 720 (or 540?) dunk necessary for Mac McClung this year.
And all of the Texas Tech (and Georgetown?) fans are happy.
Crown McClung!
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A 50! A 50! The crowd goes wild! No school Monday! Cats and Dogs! Living Together! Mass Hysteria!
On a scale of Did Darrell Armstrong Just Do a Layup (1) to Vince Carter Deserves All 50s (10), Mac McClung’s final attempt of changing Shaq’s wardrobe and jumping over him for the two-hand reverse is an 8.5
The Magic truly have an elite dunk contest history. From Dwight Howard to Aaron Gordon and now Mac McClung, these dudes know how to cater to a crowd.
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Kudos to Jaylen Brown for being an All-Star and participating, even if it means subjecting himself to these boos all night. He's actually trying to have some fun! A Michael Jackson "Thriller" glove on his theoretically nonexistent left hand is a cute prop, even if no one in the building probably had any idea without a helpful explanation from Kenny Smith. The dunk itself was pretty blah, but I love a story. 8 out of 10 Stuff the Magic Dragons.
Jaylen Brown can go left! But I’m not sure putting the thriller glove on is enough to merit an elite score.
Terrence Clark honored
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For his first dunk of the final, Jaylen Brown threw on the Brewster Academy jersey of the late Terrence Clarke, a Boston basketball prodigy Brown mentored who tragically died in a car crash months before he was projected to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft. The arena MC mistakenly said Brown was teammates with Clarke, but Brown was Clarke’s biggest mentor in the NBA.
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McClung has edge heading into final attempts
Mac McClung brings out two more human props, has the top human hold the ball while piggybacking on the ground human. When McClung missed the first attempt, he fell on his side. Dangerous! But then he completed the second attempt, gathering the ball and hitting a windmill. A 48.8 score to edge Brown leading into final attempts.
A Terrence Clark tribute was not enough to shield Jaylen Brown from more hell-level boos from this crowd. They are not feeling this man at all.
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On a scale of Michael Finley Tried to Do a Cartwheel (1) to Jason Richardson Is Redefining Everything Nique Did (10), Jaylen Brown paying tribute to the late Terrence Clarke was nice. It’s an 8 of a dunk but a 100 of a tribute.
Not Jayson Tatum walking out of here right before Jaylen Brown is about to dunk...
As the Hall of Famer David Aldridge said earlier, put BIG money on the table to get four big-time dunkers here. Treat this like it’s the In-Season Tournament.
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