2018 NBA All-Star Game

On February 18, 2018, the Staple Center hosted the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. The NBA All-Star Game is hosted every February and is a competition between the league’s best.  Each team consists of 12 players, making it 24 in total.  The teams are chosen by a series of matching a mix of the league’s star players, who are drafted by the two players with the most votes. People came from around the country just to watch this game during NBA All-Star Weekend.

This year, the team captains were LeBron James and Stephen Curry. LeBron’s team consisted of LaMarcus, Bradley Beal, DeMarcus Cousins(starter), Anthony Davis(starter), Kevin Durant(starter), Kyrie Irving(starter), Kevin Love, Victor Oladipo, Kristaps Porzingis, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook. On team Curry, there was Giannis Antetokounmpo(starter), Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRazon (starter), Joel Embiid(starter), Draymond Green, James Harden(starter), Al Horford, Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry Klay Lowry, Klay Thompson, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

During the first quarter, team Curry led the game with the score of 42-31. In  the second quarter team LeBron got the lead with the score of 45-36. In the third quarter of the game  team Curry was back with a score of 33-34. By the time the fourth quarter came around, the score was 39-33. But Team LeBron pulled off a win with a score of 148-145.

During the first 11 minutes of the game, Joel Embiid slam dunked and scored team Curry 5 points.  During the last three minutes of the first quarter Lebron gave a good assist that allowed his team to catch up and take the lead in the game. The first quarter ended with team Curry having 42 points and James having 31.

With 8 minutes left in the second quarter, team Steph took a huge lead with the help of team LeBron lacking defense on Giannis, helping him have a score of 50-37. LeBron’s team started to heat up the game and now were on a 16-2 run. Their captain, having scored 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists, was doing pretty well.

 At the end of the second quarter, the score was 78-76, Curry still in the lead. At half time, on team Curry, K. Thompson had scored his team 15 points, K. Towns, having 14 points and 5 rebounds, G. Antetokounmpo gaining 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Lastly, on team Curry, J. Embiid assisted his team with getting 10 points and 6 rebounds. Now, on team Lebron. L. James scored his team 15 points 8 rebounds and 2 assists; P. George with 10 points and 2 assists; and K. Durant giving 9 points 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Finally on team Lebron, K. Irving contributed 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

With six minutes left in the third quarter, the score 95-91, LeBron was helping gain his team points. If Team LeBron could pull this win out, LeBron (19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists) would likely win MVP. With the score 112-109, Steph in the lead, Harden’s still at eight points on 3-of-13 shooting. The race for MVP honors tonight couldn’t be much tighter. 13 different players have between 10 and 19 points so far.

During the fourth quarter, Lillard and LeBron James lead the game with 21 points apiece. Lillard and LeBron James lead the game with 21 points apiece. There was still enough time for one person to clearly set themselves apart as the MVP. The defense by Team LeBron at one part of the game was immaculate. Steph and his teammates were crushed. Because of this, in the end, the score came out to 148-145, LeBron winning.

Who were you voting for, and who do you think the ultimate MVP is?

Jillian King, 2023 – Sports Writer

Photo Credit: NBA