The NBA All-Star Game has some juice once again. Two years ago, the league changed the rules so the top two vote getters from each conference picked teams playground style instead of going with its traditional East vs. West format. That tweak has made for a more entertaining game.
Team Giannis got out to a big lead early before Team LeBron roared back in the second half to win 178-164. Kevin Durant won MVP, scoring 31 points in 26 minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for his team with 38 points on 17-for-23 shooting. The Greek Freak made the play of the game in the second quarter, finishing off a Steph Curry bounce pass that soared well above the backboard.
Nikola Jokic became the first Nugget to appear in an All-Star Game since Carmelo Anthony in 2011. Jokic scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds in what figures to be the first of many All-Star appearances in his career. He played 13 minutes overall, including only 3 in the second half. He was a victim of Antetokounmpo drafting three centers. Jokic split time there with Joel Embiid and Nikola Vucevic.
Jokic scored his first bucket of the game on a full-court pass from Antetokoumpo. He was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass instead of the throwing end for once.
Jokic’s dunk later in the first quarter was another out-of-the-ordinary play from him. Jokic has dunked just seven times in 56 games. In fact, throwdowns are far less common from him than triple-doubles, of which Jokic has 12 this season.
The best play Jokic made Sunday was a pass to the other team. He hauled in a rebound and playfully tossed it to LeBron James, who was standing out of bounds. Jokic giggled like a little kid on his way back down the court.
After a busy All-Star Weekend, Jokic will now get some much-deserved rest before Denver faces Dallas on Friday. Jokic played in every game but one before the All-Star break. He’s averaging 20.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.7 assists. He’s guided the Nuggets to a 39-18 record — the second-best in the Western Conference. Denver is primed to snap a five-season playoff drought with Jokic at the controls — and could even make some noise when it gets to the postseason.
