Team LeBron dominated the 2021 NBA All-Star game against team Durant, 170-150, sweeping all quarters at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Sunday. The win allowed Team LeBron to secure $1,250,000 for their chosen charity, Thurgood Marshall College Fund of the HBCU Community.
Q1 Team LeBron
Kyrie Irving, who was chosen as the substitute captain for Team Durant, proved himself early in the game by carrying Team Durant in scoring. Durant was out because of an injury.
LeBron, who started on the points immediately, opted to score inside the paint with a couple of dunks. Giannis Antetokounmpo hit his shots from beyond the arc, signaling Team LeBron that the Rainbow territory was open. Stephen Curry led the team with his hot shooting and even hit a shot at the All-Star logo from a LeBron James assist. The two were were teammates for the first time in an NBA All-Star game, Fox News reported.
Q2 Team LeBron
Despite the early lead established by Team Durant and Kyrie Irving's aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, they fell short as the second frame's final minutes transformed into a showdown of the guards by Team LeBron. With four minutes left in the second quarter, Team LeBron initiated a 12-0 run.
Lillard, Curry, and Paul found themselves on the other end of the alley-oop as they were the ones dunking the ball. After the highlight at the rim, Damian launched another long bomb at the half-court with time winding down the clock, but the reigning three-point shootout champion Stephen Curry answered back with his own version of a three-point shot also from the half-court that extended the lead at 60-41, in favor of Team LeBron, ESPN reported.
Q3 Team Lebron
After winning the first two quarters, LeBron James did not need to return in the third quarter as former rivals, now NBA All-Star Game teammates Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo took charge to secure the quarter for another $150,000 for the team's charity.
Luka started the quarter with a triple also at the logo, showing his range, but the biggest story in the third was Antetokounmpo, who was not afraid to take a three, even risking his perfect shooting night with 15/15 from the field. Team Lebron held the third period with a 1-point lead going into the fourth and $450,000 for the charity Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Q4 Team LeBron
With the target score set at 170, the game seemed to be already in the bag for Team LeBron, but Team Durant became aggressive in the fourth and opted to shot more threes to catch up.
But the guards of Team LeBron, led by Chris Paul, controlled the game's tempo and managed to seal it in their favor despite facing the howling defense of Team Durant. Even Jalen Brown exhibited a four-point play to extend the lead.
With only three points at the target, Steph Curry launched a long bomb at the center court but fell short. But, with the clock winding down, Damian Lillard reminded everyone that it was already 'Dame Time' as he put the dagger coming from a half-court shot.
Overall, after winning the NBA All-star Game, Team LeBron garnered $1,250,000 for Thurgood Marshall College Fund, while Team Durant also earned $500,00 for their charity, United Negro College Fund.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo bagged the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award with his perfect shooting night of 16/16 from the field, Draft Kings Nation reported.
Read also: 2021 NBA All-Star Game: LeBron, Durant Choose Who Will Play for Their Teams
