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Casey tops DeRozan and Lowry in All-Star Game

This was a lot of fun.

This was so much fun. Let’s do a quick media roundup.

BOX SCORE

Pre-Game

Intros

First Half – Team Curry 78, Team LeBron 76

  • Team Curry 78, Team LeBron 76
  • DeMar DeRozan’s ill father, Frank, was able to make it to the game after all, which is awesome.
  • DeRozan opened his game with a corner three. Baited some free throws, too.
  • Kyle Lowry started his by getting blocked at the rim. He was out there making savvy passes and hustle plays, though.
  • Lowry and DeRozan didn’t see time together early, as Mike D’Antoni went with hockey-style line-changes.
  • Dwane Casey’s team was into the penalty with more than four minutes left in the first quarter. He was fired up.
  • First quarter: Curry 42, LeBron 31
    • DeRozan scored 7 points on 5 used possessions with 1 rebound, 1 steal, and a +4 in 5 minutes.
    • Lowry scored 2 points on 3 used possessions with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and a +9 in 6 minutes.
  • Lowry and DeRozan got to play together early in the second and Lowry immediately tried to look for him in transition, then again off an offensive rebound. There was even a Lowry-DeRozan-Giannis Antetokounmpo connection, and Masai Ujiri wept.
    • The Lowry-DeRozan pairing played to a -1 in 4 minutes.
  • Lowry tried to break up a Kemba Walker lob to LeBron James and it was the most anyone has ever tried on defense in an All-Star Game and also just the cutest.
  • Second quarter: LeBron 45, Curry 36
    • DeRozan scored 2 points on 4 used possessions with 1 rebound, 1 assist, and a -10 in 7 minutes.
    • Lowry went scoreless on 4 used possessions with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and a -3 in 4 minutes.

https://twitter.com/Swarlayzers/status/965402159331397632

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https://twitter.com/Swarlayzers/status/965408535415750656

10 | 7

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Second Half – Team LeBron 148, Team Curry 145

  • DeRozan opened the half with a nifty Euro-step with a reverse finish. Curry was impressed on the bench. Then DeRozan jumped a LeBron pass for a steal that set up a missed Lowry three (Lowry was starting the second half, obviously because of those plus-minus numbers). DeRozan closed out the nice run with an and-one assisted by Lowry. Raptors takeover.
  • Third quarter: Curry 34,  LeBron 33
    • DeRozan scored 5 points on 4 used possessions with 1 steal and a +2 in 6 minutes.
    • Lowry went scoreless on 2 used possessions with 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, and a +2 in 6 minutes.
  • Team Curry led by 3 entering the 4th, setting up a final 12 minutes players actually locked in for a bit with so much money on the line for players and their chosen charities.
  • Naturally, D’Antoni went back to Lowry and DeRozan to try to pull away at the top of the fourth. Lowry responded with a defensive rebound he pushed to set up a transition bucket for Horford. Not to be outdone, DeRozan drove for a dunk and then hit a smooth mid-range jumper. He drew a foul not longer after, too, and I don’t know how to feel about the Raptors having such a good chemistry with Horford.
  • Team Steph was up 13 when Lowry and DeRozan checked out with 6:36 to go. They were only up 3 when DeRozan returned 3 minutes later.
  • DeRozan drew the LeBron assignment on one possession, then Westbrook the next. He then came up with a huge defensive rebound and drew a foul in transition, splitting a pair of free throws to take the lead with 40 seconds left. Lowry got the nod with under a minute to go, too, but it couldn’t stop Team LeBron from pulling ahead when DeRozan and Antetokounmpo misconnected on the other end after DeRozan broke the defense down. Team Steph couldn’t create a shot on their final possession.
  • They legit had a lengthy video review with a minute left. In an All-Star Game. And players were mad. There’s gonna be a Last Two Minute Report. Has to be. Dwane Casey was out at half-court hollering defensive coverages.
  • The last few minutes were really, really fun. I always enjoy the All-Star Game, anyway, but the tweaks to the format and prize pool succeeded here, in my opinion. Your mileage probably varies with exhibitions like this in general. Speaking only for myself, it was great.
  • Fourth quarter: LeBron 39, Curry 33
    • DeRozan scored 7 points on 4 used possessions with 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and a +4 in 9 minutes.
      • DeRozan finished the game with a team-high 21 points on 18 used possessions, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and an even 0 rating in 27 minutes.
    • Lowry scored 2 points on 3 used possessions with 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 steal, and a +2 in 6 minutes.
      • Lowry finished the game with 4 points on 12 used possessions, 7 rebounds, a game-high 11 assists, 3 steals, and a +14 in 21 minutes.

Boolin’

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We stay winning. #WeTheNorth

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Have a good night and a great Family Day, everyone.

Courtesy: @Raptors905

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