NBA All-Star Game 2022: LeBron James Shoots Game-Winning Point, Leading All-Star Team to Victory for Five Consecutive Years

In the city where L.A. Lakers LeBron James' NBA career began, the native Northeast Ohio star drilled a fadeaway jump shot to clinch the victory over Team Durant, 163-160, in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

With a grandstand finish set up perfectly, LeBron stepped up and nailed a two-pointer fadeaway to hit the magic number for 163 to end proceedings. He finished with 24 points of his own, six rebounds, and eight assists, per ESPN.

Team LeBron was no doubt helped by a record-breaking performance from Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who nailed 16 three-pointers from 27 attempts to finish the game with 50 points.

Curry was nailing shots from everywhere, including multiple baskets from as far back as the logo. And for the first time in his illustrious career, Curry won the Kobe Bryant Trophy for All-Star Game MVP.

On a night when the NBA honored its 75 greatest players for their anniversary celebration, two of them, Curry and James, put on displays worthy of the occasion.

LeBron James Leads Victory for Five Consecutive Years

Team LeBron has improved to 5-0 since the NBA switched away from the standard East-West format of the All-Star Game in 2018.

The game itself employed the "Elam Ending," a format that was originally used in Chicago two years ago. It has brought the same level of excitement and competition to the game's final seconds this year as it did in its debut in 2020.

Luka Doncic scored the team's final six points of the quarter to help Team LeBron win the first quarter 47-45. Despite Curry's record-setting eight first-half 3-pointers, Team Durant rallied back to win the second quarter, 49-46, to take a 94-93 halftime advantage.

After a heavy defensive effort by Giannis Antetokounmpo late in the third quarter, the two teams were tied.

Team Durant led 139-138 heading into the fourth quarter, meaning the target score was 163 points - 24 more than the total from the team leading after three, in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, and setting up James' final heroics after Joel Embiid and Antetokounmpo traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter.

Before any action on the court began, there was a light-hearted moment, with James holding back laughter while Macy Gray sang the national anthem.

It drew immediate reactions to Fergie's rendition of the song in 2018, which saw many NBA stars doing an even worse job of hiding their laughter during the performance.

Team Captain Kevin Durant To Miss Game Due To Injury, Grandmother's Death

Team Durant was without its captain for the second year in a row, as Kevin Durant was unable to compete in Sunday's game due to an MCL sprain that has kept him out for the past month. Despite his injury, the team captain was supposed to attend the game, but he did not because his grandma died this weekend.

Draymond Green and James Harden also missed the game due to injury, with Dejounte Murray, Jarrett Allen, and LaMelo Ball filling up for them.

Last-minute drama surfaced when Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell pulled out only hours before tip-off due to an upper respiratory illness that prevented him from participating in anything on Saturday, including the All-Star Game itself. The three-time All-Star selection and 2018 Slam Dunk Contest champion was selected as a reserve on the team LeBron.

Meanwhile, Chris Paul will miss the next 6-to-8 weeks, at least, after sustaining an avulsion fracture in his right thumb in Wednesday's win over the Houston Rockets. Despite his injury, he played just over two minutes in the first quarter of Sunday's game, missing his only attempt (a left-handed layup), before sitting down for the night.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: WILD ALL-STAR ENDING Team LeBron vs Team Durant | 2022 NBA All-Star - from NBA