February 18 ------ Jayson Tatum scored 15 points and Stephen Curry added 12 on four three-pointers as Team Shaq posted a 41-25 victory over Team Chuck to win the All-Star Game tournament in San Francisco on Sunday night, February 16 (Monday, February 17, Manila time).
Tatum made 6-of-7 shots and converted the decisive dunk to end the easy victory for Team Shaq, coached by former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.
Curry was named MVP of the night. The Golden State Warriors star scored 20 points over two games played in his home arena.
Victor Wembanyama scored 11 points to pace Team Chuck, which was coached by former NBA star Charles Barkley.
Team Shaq’s LeBron James (ankle) sat out Sunday night’s festivities.
Team Shaq was 7 points away from the target score of 40 when Curry hit two treys to pull them within one. Tatum then converted the dunk to end the first All-Star Game played under this format. Team Shaq shot 57.1% from the field, including 9-of-17 from three-point range. Team Chuck shot 35.5% and was a lowly 2-of-16 from behind the arc. Team Shaq scored the first 11 points of the game. Curry hit a game-opening three-pointer and Tatum followed with the next eight on a dunk and two treys. Team Chuck finally got on the board with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander splitting two free throws.
After missing their first 10 field-goal attempts, the Team Chuck drought ended on a layup by Karl-Anthony Towns. Wembanyama followed with a three-pointer to pull Team Chuck within 11-6. Team Shaq’s lead was back to double digits when Kyrie Irving connected on a trey to make it 19-8. Team Chuck crept within 23-15 on consecutive dunks by Towns and Wembanyama. But Curry let fly from the midcourt line and swished the shot to push Team Shaq’s lead to 11. James Harden drilled a three-pointer to give Team Shaq a 33-19 lead before the closing push.
The contest was the second of the night for both teams under the new format.
Lillard calls game in Team Shaq semis win
Team Shaq qualified for the title match with a 42-35 win over Team Candace, coached by former women’s star Candace Parker. Team Chuck reached the final with a 41-32 victory over Team Kenny, coached by former NBA player Kenny Smith. Damian Lillard scored 9 points on three three-pointers, including the game-ender for Team Shaq Curry recorded 8 points and 6 rebounds and Jaylen Brown also scored 8 points for Team Shaq.
Ryan Dunn and Dalton Knecht scored 8 points apiece for Team Candace, a team of first- and second-year NBA players who played their way into the bracket through Friday’s Rising Stars competition. Candace Parker is a women’s basketball legend.
After reaching 39 points, one off the target score needed for victory, Team Shaq missed four straight shots before Lillard canned a trey to end it. The game was tied at 28 before Brown scored three consecutive baskets to give Team Shaq a six-point advantage. The final one was on an alley-oop pass from Kyrie Irving. A three-point play by Dunn pulled Team Candace within three but Lillard knocked down a trey to give Team Shaq a 37-31 advantage. Amen Thompson’s dunk pulled Team Candace within four before Kevin Durant’s dunk pushed Team Shaq’s lead back to six. Stephon Castle’s driving hoop again cut the margin to four but Team Candace couldn’t get any closer prior to Team Shaq finally prevailing on the 3-pointer by Lillard.
Earlier, Team Shaq received consecutive three-pointers from James Harden and Lillard to take a 15-10 lead. Team Candace scored the next five to tie the game and later got hoops from Trayce Jackson-Davis, Thompson and Knecht to take a 21-20 edge. Tatum and Durant followed with baskets to put Team Shaq ahead by three. Knecht drilled a trey to tie it at 24 and Castle followed with a basket to give Team Candace a 26-24 lead.
Shai leads Team Chuck in semis triumph
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting to lead Team Chuck over Team Kenny in the semifinal Gilgeous-Alexander drove for a dunk for the game-ending points as Team Chuck prevailed by being the first team to reach the target score of 40. Team Chuck, coached by former NBA star Charles Barkley, advanced to the championship game with the win. Victor Wembanyama and Karl-Anthony Towns added 6 points apiece for Team Chuck Darius Garland, Tyler Herro and Evan Mobley scored 6 points apiece for Team Kenny, named after former NBA player Kenny Smith. Anthony Edwards did not play for Team Kenny because of groin soreness.
Source: rappler.com
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