The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will go down as one of the most memorable and highest-scoring editions, with several records falling on the way to the Eastern Conference’s 211-186 victory over the Western Conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Haliburton, Lillard Set the Tone Early
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, playing in front of his home crowd, wasted no time making an impact. He knocked down five three-pointers in the opening minutes to score 15 quick points.
But Bucks star Damian Lillard matched that production with 15 of his own to keep the West close early.
Lillard caught fire from distance, while Haliburton focused more on setting up his teammates after his initial scoring barrage. Both teams eclipsed 50 points in the high-octane first quarter, which ended with the East ahead 53-47.
LeBron Throws Down Vintage Dunk
At 39 years old in his 20th All-Star appearance, LeBron James showed he can still throw down thunderous dunks. On a fast break early in the first half, LeBron took a bounce pass from Paul George and elevated for a powerful one-handed jam that brought back memories of his high-flying youth.
Teams Set All-Star Scoring Record for First Half
There was absolutely no defense being played, as both teams continuously pushed the pace and launched three-pointers early in the shot clock. Haliburton and Lillard cooled off from outside, but their teammates continued the hot shooting.
The East poured in 61 points in the second quarter to set a new All-Star record with 104 first-half points.
The West kept pace with 89 points of their own, bringing the total points scored in the first half to 193—shattering the previous All-Star record of 89, set back in 2017.
A Look at Halftime Stats and Standouts
At halftime, Lillard led all scorers with 22 points for the East. Haliburton slowed down after his quick start but still had 18 at the break.
Steph Curry (12 points) and Kevin Durant (12 points) paced the West.
Some other first-half standouts included Jayson Tatum with 16 points, Jaylen Brown with 15, and Giannis Antetokounmpo with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in just 11 minutes of action.
East Sets All-Star Game Record for 3-Pointers
Both squads came out gunning again to start the second half. The East began heating up from three-point range even more than they did in the first half—if that’s possible.
Led by Lillard and Haliburton, who each hit over five threes, the East set a new All-Star record with 28 three-point makes through three quarters.
Lillard provided the exclamation point late in the third when he pulled up from just inside half court and effortlessly splashed home his 33rd point of the game to put the East up 132-105. Heading into the fourth, they led 160-136 in what was on pace to be the highest-scoring All-Star affair ever.
West Cuts Lead to 10, But East Pulls Away
Karl-Anthony Towns came alive in the fourth quarter with 20 quick points to pull the West to within 10 points at 180-170.
However, the East refused to relinquish their large lead for long, as Jaylen Brown scored 12 straight points to make it 194-170.
From there, Lillard and Haliburton closed the show in style. Haliburton broke the 200-point mark—another All-Star first—drilling a three with just over two minutes left.
Towns topped 50 points for the West, but it wasn’t nearly enough in the end.
East Sets All-Star Scoring Record in Runaway Win
When the final buzzer sounded, the numbers on the scoreboard were simply staggering.
The East’s 211 points were the most ever scored by one team in an NBA All-Star Game.
Both teams topped 186 points—the previous scoring record set by the West back in 2017.
Add it all up and the 397 combined points also established a new All-Star Game record.
Basketball historians will be discussing the numbers from this game for years to come.
Check out NBA All-Star Saturday winners and losers here!
Lillard Named Kobe Bryant MVP
For his scintillating 39-point performance that included him nailing shots from all over the court, Damian Lillard took home the Kobe Bryant MVP Award. Lillard went 14-26 from the field, with an incredible 11 three-point makes.
Lillard joins Michael Jordan as the only players ever to win the Three-Point Contest on Saturday and All-Star Game MVP on Sunday in the same year. He is also the seventh player to win both awards in his career.
While Pacers fans showed their displeasure with Lillard taking the MVP over Haliburton, Lillard cemented his legacy with an All-Star weekend for the ages.
Key Stats and Standouts
Here is a rundown of some of the eye-popping numbers and top performers from this historic 2024 NBA All-Star Game:
- Damian Lillard: 39 points (14-26 FG, 11-23 3PT), 6 assists – Named All-Star Game MVP
- Tyrese Haliburton: 32 points (11-15 FG, 10-14 3PT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists
- Jaylen Brown: 36 points (15-23 FG), 8 rebounds
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 50 points, 17-35 FG from the West
- The East set All-Star Game records with 211 points scored and 42 three-pointers made
- The 397 combined points also set an All-Star standard
Takeaways: Defense Remains the Only Missing Ingredient
While the 2024 All-Star Game will be immortalized for its otherworldly scoring numbers, it lacked competitive fire for long stretches. The players largely went through the motions on defense, not wanting to risk injury by playing aggressively.
Ultimately, the stars care more about returning healthy to pursue championships and accolades that matter much more to their legacies.
The NBA will again have to decide if the current All-Star format has run its course, or if tweaks can be made to increase effort on defense while avoiding serious injury. It remains an almost impossible balance to strike.
But even if no one was breaking a sweat on the less glamorous end, fans still witnessed arguably the most impressive offensive showcase the All-Star stage has ever seen.
Sources:
www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2024-nba-all-star-game-score-highlights-east-sets-record-by-hitting-200-point-mark-in-defense-less-win/live/
sports.yahoo.com/nba-all-star-game-2024-score-highlights-and-live-updates-000046209.html
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39555954/bucks-damian-lillard-named-mvp-2024-nba-all-star-game
