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Lakers Nation > Blog > Gameday > NBA All-Star Game 2018: Defense Helps Team LeBron Come Back In 4th Quarter For Win
Gameday

NBA All-Star Game 2018: Defense Helps Team LeBron Come Back In 4th Quarter For Win

Matthew Moreno
Published: 02/18/2018
3 Min Read
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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The usual buzz and excitement that comes with the NBA All-Star Game was largely absent at Staples Center on Sunday night, which may have played a factor in the sluggish start. Or perhaps it was the attention to defense from tipoff.

In the end, Team LeBron overcame a late deficit to edge by Team Stephen, 148-145, with the intensity turning up late. Team Stephen held an 11-point lead through the first quarter, with Karl-Anthony Towns shining early with 11 points.

Anthony Davis paced Team LeBron with six points, while LeBron James and Bradley Beal each had five. The first quarter was played with a few highlight-worthy slam dunks and alley-oops, but several passes were also off the mark.

With his team still trailing by double-digits, James began to lead a 3-point barrage in the second quarter. It cut their deficit to one point and had them down by two at the half.

Despite a roster that boasted sharpshooters Stephen Curry, James Harden and Klay Thompson, the trio at one point were a combined 2-for-16 from deep.

Curry and Thompson rebounded some, as the Golden State Warriors starting backcourt connected on their next three attempts. Thompson’s 15 points tied him with James for the game-high at halftime.

Joel Embiid had a rather entertaining sequence in the second quarter, making a 3-pointer, then blocking a Russell Westbrook layup attempt. Despite some of the bad blood that’s boiled over between the two during the regular season, play continued without incident.

A Kevin Durant 3-pointer to start third quarter gave Team Lebron a 79-78 lead, but it was short-lived as Embiid sparked a 9-0 run. With 19 points, James was the leading scorer through three quarters, followed by Towns who had 17 points.

Team Stephen extended their lead to as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but for much of the final six minutes it was a one-possession game. A James’ 3-pointer tied it late, and after DeMar DeRozan split a pair of free throws, James’ left-handed layup gave his team a lead.

Westbrook’s breakaway layup extended it to three points, and Team Stephen failed to get a shot up on their final possession. James finished with a game-high 29 points, while DeRozan and Damian Lillard each had 21 points for Team Stephen.

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ByMatthew Moreno
Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com
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