RECAP: Team Giannis Ousts Team Lebron in 187-175 All-Star Game matchup; Mac McClung crowned Dunk Contest winner

Leading up to the 2023 All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo had drafted their teams and were ready for the weekend. The 187-175 win seemed to show injuries that significantly affected the game’s outcome. Being held in the middle of the season, it is already known that most players do not want to get injured.

James sat out the second half of the All-Star contest after injuring his wrist. Stephen Curry, James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all either left early or got hurt during the matchup. This contributed to the overall lack of competitiveness during the game.

Jayson Tatum stole the show and won MVP honors. He beat Anthony Davis’ 52-point record by scoring 55 for team Giannis, while Donovan Mitchell scored 40 for the good guys. Team LeBron’s Jaylen Brown collected 35 and Joel Embiid added 32 points. 

The Dunk Contest was a hard-fought battle. It all came down to the final round where Philadelphia’s G-league call-up Mac McClung faced off against New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III. Having achieved a nearly perfect score in round one, McClung continued to impress and was victorious when it mattered most. 

Following the Dunk Contest, Philadelphia’s George Niang spoke on McClung’s performance where he described it as “electric” and “a lot of fun to watch.”  

“It was a lot of fun to be at home on my couch, relaxed and watching," said Niang.

Looking at the viewer statistics, it was the least-watched NBA All-Star game since 2000. Although the game always showcases the players’ skills, the lack of effort was easy to pick up on. After the game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone spoke on the game. He elaborated on the honor it was to coach team LeBron, but he also mentioned how terrible the game was to watch.