NBA All-Stars still bring energy and excitement as Team LeBron cruises past Team Durant

Off the court, the NBA All-Stars could not attend parties, host clinics or even enjoy dinner at a restaurant.

On the court, the NBA All-Stars still brought energy and excitement through the same methods that have become familiar in other showcase games. Giannis Antetokounmpo threw down endless dunks. Damian Lillard and Steph Curry drained endless 3-pointers. Neither All-Star team played much defense.

The NBA held its All-Star Game this year in Atlanta with fake crowd noise, an enclosed arena and strict safety protocols to mitigate risk with the coronavirus. Yet, both All-Star teams still offered highlight reels, competitiveness and clutch performances.

LeBron James himself used the All-Star Game as a form of load management by sitting out the entire second half. Kevin Durant missed the game entirely because of a left hamstring injury. So other factors influenced Team LeBron finishing with a with a 170-150 win over Team Durant.

Dame Time!

Lillard pulls up a step inside halfcourt and knocks down the 3 to give Team LeBron the 170-150 win! #NBAAllStar

?: @NBAonTNT
pic.twitter.com/ZgcG1ma5Rd

Because Team LeBron won each quarter, the team will donate $1.5 million to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Under a new format that went into effect last year that required the leading team to score 24 fourth-quarter points, Team LeBron needed to reach a target score of 170 in the fourth quarter with no clock after holding a 146-125 cushion through the first three periods.

Lillard made the game-clinching shot from nearly halfcourt, which capped a 32-point performance while shooting 11-of-20 from the field and 8-of-16 from 3-point range. Curry also joined in on the long-distance frenzy with 28 points while going 10-of-19 from the field and 8-of-16 from deep. Antetokounmpo, the game's MVP, had 35 points on 16-of-16 shooting.

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