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By: Kobe Scales, Sports Editor 

INDIANAPOLIS – In Indianapolis on Sunday night, the Eastern Conference All-Stars made history by scoring an NBA-record 211 points, defeating the Western Conference. The final score of 211-186 set a new record for the most total points scored in an All-Star Game. 

The game was also the first time since 2017 that showcased stars from the Eastern and Western Conferences playing against each other. 

In his first All-Star appearance representing the East after seven All-Star Selections for the Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was named the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP. 

Lillard showcased his scoring prowess by dropping 39 points, including 11 three-pointers out of 23 attempts, along with three rebounds and six assists in just 27 minutes on the court.

“Me and Kawhi was in awe of him shooting from the half-court line like it’s a free throw,” Kevin Durant said. “That’s just strength, power, just muscle memory. Somebody who works extremely hard every day on their craft to be able to do that without flinching. It was just normal, natural motion.”

Lillard also joined Michael Jordan as the only player to ever win an award on Saturday night and go on to be named the MVP of the game on Sunday. 

“Anytime you’re mentioned in the same category as Mike, it’s an honor and a major accomplishment,” Lillard said. “Even if it’s All-Star Weekend, because if it was that simple, more people would’ve done it since 1988, so that’s a major accomplishment for me to be mentioned in the same conversation as far as that.”

Hometown hero Tyrese Haliburton, representing the Eastern Conference and the hometown Indiana Pacers, also made a significant impact, thrilling the crowd with his scoring prowess. Haliburton tallied 32 points on an impressive 11-of-15 shooting from the field, including 10 successful three-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and six assists to his stat line.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, coming off the bench for the West, delivered a remarkable performance by scoring 50 points on 23-of-35 shooting, accompanied by eight rebounds and three assists.

Leading the starting five for the West, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 31 points by hitting 12 of his 16 shots.

Despite limited minutes, LeBron James made his NBA record 20th consecutive All-Star Game appearance, showcasing his trademark dunks before watching from the sidelines. The East’s captain, Giannis Antetokounmpo, impressed with 23 points, seven rebounds, and one assist, displaying his athleticism and agility with crowd-pleasing dunks.

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown also delivered a notable performance for the East, scoring 36 points, the second-highest on his team, while connecting on 6-of-12 three-point attempts and shooting 15-of-23 overall, accompanied by eight rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes of play.