Markkanen, Lillard Help Team Giannis Win 2023 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 19, 2023, 9:05 PM | Updated: 9:30 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen and former Weber State star Damian Lillard helped Team Giannis defeat Team LeBron to win the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
The NBA All-Star Game took place at Vivint Arena on Sunday, February 19.
Team Giannis beat Team LeBron, 184-175.
DAME FTW 💥
.@MarkkanenLauri and @Dame_Lillard help Team Giannis win the 2023 @NBAAllStar Game.
FINAL
Team LeBron 175
Team Giannis 184Markkanen scored 13 points and Lillard poured in 26 off the bench.#NBAAllStar #NBA #TakeNote #WeAreWeber
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/qofDhBxZ0J— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 20, 2023
The Game
Entering the game with a spring wrist, Giannis Antetokounmpo got a dunk on the first possession and immediately left the floor.
Lauri Markkanen got off to a quick start scoring seven first quarter points on a perfect 3-3 shooting.
The Jazz forward connected on an alley-oop from Donovan Mitchell for the second basket of the game for Team Giannis, and followed it up with another dunk and a three.
🕷️ Spida ➡️ The Finnisher 💪 #NBAAllStar #NBA #TakeNote https://t.co/zcvXnzqpNs
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 20, 2023
Jayson Tatum had 13 points to lead all scorers while Kyrie Irving had 11 for Team LeBron.
After one the two teams were tied at 46 and split the $100,000 prize for Raise The Future and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Utah.
In the second quarter, Markkanen added two more dunks and brought his scoring total up to 11 for the game.
Donovan Mitchell began to take over in the second quarter for Team Giannis upping his scoring total to 16, while Tatum added 17 to lead the roster.
Lauri Markkanen gets his fourth bucket of the game, another alley-oop, this time rom Pascal Siakam.
He then follows it up with a reverse double-pump jam.
He's up to 11 points. #takenote | #NBAAllStarpic.twitter.com/RZctIhmewo
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 20, 2023
Team Giannis won the second quarter 53-46 earning another $100,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Utah.
At halftime, LeBron James was ruled out of the second half of the game with a hand injury.
Tatum and Mitchell took turns carrying the scoring load as Mitchell upped his total to 30 while Tatum was up to 37.
Damian Lillard dropped one of the highlights of the game sinking a 47 before stepping across half-court.
In the fourth quarter, Lillard hit the game-winning shot to end the contest.
DAME TIME. THAT'S GAME.#TeamGiannis reaches the target score of 182 to win the 2023 #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/PElkOAy5OJ
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2023
Lillard finished with 26 points off the bench.
Markkanen added 13 points.
Mitchell dropped 40 points and dished out 10 assists.
The Kobe Bryant MVP award went to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who scored an All-Star Game record 55 points.
.@jaytatum0 of the @celtics is the 2023 @NBAAllStar Game @kobebryant MVP. 🏆
Tatum finished with 5️⃣5️⃣ points, an #NBAAllStar Game record.
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/1KypYyjdPw
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 20, 2023
Next year’s All-Star Game will take place in Indianapolis and will be hosted by the Indiana Pacers.