The 66th annual NBA All-Star Game tipped off Sunday night in New Orleans, and it was quite the game. Fans were treated to a fast-paced shootout between the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star teams.
The game as a whole was simply a dazzling showcase of the best of the NBA’s scoring talent. The first quarter alone saw both teams combine for 101 points, breaking the previous record for most points in a quarter in an All-Star game set in last year’s game in Toronto (99). The teams also combined for an ASG record of 374 points, which also beats the mark set last year (369).
The volume of dunks in tonight’s game was so high, I’m almost certain people lost count by the halfway mark of the first quarter. This game truly gave the fans, who paid exorbitant amounts of money for seats, their money’s worth of entertainment.
Related Story: News and notes from All-Star Weekend
The second and third quarters were pretty much the same until Russell Westbrook decided to entertain with a flurry of threes towards the end of the third quarter. Westbrook ended the game with 41 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds on 16-26 shooting in 20 minutes.
Giannis Anteokounmpo and Kyrie Irving were the East’s best performers, scoring 30 and 22 points respectively. Irving also had a game-best 14 assists.
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He who shall not be named also had quite the game himself by getting a triple double consistent of 21 points,10 boards, and 10 assists.
The player who truly stole the show tonight, however, was none other than New Orleans’ own Anthony Davis. Davis scored an ASG record of 52 points on 26-39 shooting. FIFTY. TWO. POINTS.
He broke the mark set by Wilt Chamberlain by 10 points in what was easily the most effortless 50 point game ever seen.
And, to the surprise of absolutely no one, Anthony Davis was promptly named the 2017 NBA All-Star game MVP.
Tonight featured a moment that created a nostalgic feeling for many Thunder fans like myself. Kevin Durant dished out a no-look, alley-oop pass to Russell Westbrook. Here’s the clip:
https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/833492367793467392
Who cut the onions? I swear, I’m not crying. *sniff sniff*
That aside, this was a high-scoring affair that the fans truly enjoyed. A showcase of the very best of the high volume of talent in the NBA.
The Thunder’s next game is against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Peake on Friday.